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OF  THE 


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Portland,  Oregon 

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GIFT  OF 

SEELEY  W.  MUDD 

and 

GEORGE  I.  COCHRAN     MEYER  ELSASSER 

DR.JOHNR.  HAYNES    WILLIAM  L.  HONNOLD 

JAMES  R.  MARTIN         MRS.  JOSEPH  F.  SARTORI 

to  the 

UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA 

SOUTHERN  BRANCH 


^' 


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f^ili 


lais   DUUK   IS  L^LJc  un   cne   lasi  aaie  siampea   oeiow 


SEP  7  1944 


I 


BX 
9861 

P8F5   ?/llbu:'- 


history  of  First 
Unitarian  ohuroh^ — 

of  Portia n ■'": ,    0 r  e  g or, 


^^^h^^T'^^^^^^'p^^ 


louthern  Branch 
of  the 

University  of  California 


c^l 


Form  L   1 


Los  Angeles 


/ 


A   HISTOHV 


FIRST  UNITARIAN  CHURCH, 

OF 

PORTLAND,     OREGON. 


1867-1892. 


TOGKTUKFi    WITH    A   SKETCH   OF  THE   LIFE   OK 


f^EV.    THOMAS    LiRjVlB    EblOT, 


ITS    FIHST   PASTOK. 


And  an  Account  of  the  Exercises  of  the 
Twenty-fifth  Anniversarj-- 


BY 

EARL  MORSE  WILBUR. 


PORTLAND: 

FIRST    UNITARIAN    CnURCH 

1893. 


860  (1 7 


PRINTED  BY 
C.  A.  EOHKABACHEii. 


3X 


This  history  Avas  lirst  undertaken  with  the  pur- 
pose of  preparing  a  historical  discourse  for  the  twen- 
tj'-fifth  anniversary  of  the  dedication  of  the  ciiapel. 
But  it  grew  beyond  the  proper  limits  of  a  sermon, 
and  the  historical  discourse  had  to  be  an  abridge- 
ment of  what  is  here  given.  It  has  been  prepared 
with  care  from  the  records  of  the  church  and  its  va- 
rious organizations,  from  the  newspapers  of  the  time, 
and  from  personal  recollections  of  early  members; 
and  it  is  published  in  order  permanently  to  preserve 
a  record  which  might  otherwise  easily  become  forgot- 
ten or  destroyed.  Special  thanks  are  due,  for  aid 
given  in  its  preparation,  to  Rev.  T.  L.  Eliot,  Mrs. 
Rosa  F.  Burrell,  and  Mrs.  C.  W.  Burrage.  Appen- 
dixes are  added  which  give  material  that  could  not 
be  suitably  given  in  the  course  of  the  narrative. 


A   HISTORY  OF  THE  FIRST  UNITARIAN 
CHURCH. 


THE  Portland  of  tlie  sixties  was  a  (luiet  frontier 
town  of  between  tive  and  ten  thonsand  people,  in  the 
third  decade  of  its  history,  reached  Ijy  stage  overland 
from  California,  and  l>y  twoor  three  steamei's  monthly. 
It  had  then,  as  it  has  always  had,  in  spite  of  the  law- 
lessness and  vice  that  so  ofteji  characterize  frontier 
towns,  more  than  the  nsnal  jirojiortion  of  Christian 
people,  whether  n)easured  by  their  numbers,  or  by 
their  influence  in  the  connnunity.  It  was.  for  its 
size,  well  supplied  with  ciiurches.  In  ]86o  there 
were  already  a  Methodist,  a  Presltyteiian,  a  Congrega- 
tionaiist.  a  Haiitist.  an  Ki)isc()pal.  and  a  Catholic 
chuich. 

Among  the  residents  of  tliat  early  day  there  was, 
however,  a  considerable  number  of  persons,  includ- 
ing some  of  wealth  and  influence,  who  had  l)een  reared 
in  the  Liberal  Christian  faith,  in  New  England  and 
elsewhere  in  the  East,    both    Unitarians  and  Univer- 


THE  HISTORY  OF   1  HE 


salists.  Among  the  move  i)romineiit  of  these  were 
Tliomas  Frazar  and  his  wife,  who  had  arrived  as 
early  as  1853;  Mrs.  Anna  Cootceand  her  children,  who 
came  soon  after;  Mr.  and  Mrp.  tra  Goodnough,  Mrs. 
Abhy  W.  Atwood,  and  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ciiarles  W.  Bur- 
rage.  There  was  no  organization  among  ihern  as 
Liberal  Christians.  Many  of  them  were  not  aware 
that  the  religious  beliefs  which  they  held  were  shared 
by  others  in  the  community.  They  therefore  wor- 
shipped in  the  churches  already  established,  coTitribu- 
ted  to  the  support  of  them  according  to  their  means, 
taught  classes  in  the  Sunday-schools,  to  which  they 
also  sent  their  children,  and  did  their  full  share  of 
general  church  work.  At  various  times  they  were 
urged  to  join  the  churches  with  which  they  were  asso- 
ciated. But  they  held  firmly  to  their  inheritance  in 
Liberal  Christianity,  and  waited  for  a  time  when  they 
should  have  a  church  of  their  own.  One  family  at 
least,  that  of  Mr.  Frazar,  during  the  six  years  in  which 
they  lived  on  what  is  now  the  "Ladd  Farm''  in  East 
Portland,  were  accustomed  to  hold  home  services  on 
Sundays,  at  which  neighbors  and  visitors  were  often 
present.  Hymns  were  sung,  prayers  were  offered, 
and  a  sermon  was  read,  usually  of  Channing,  Pea- 
body,  Chapin,  or  other  Liberal  Christian  leaders  of 
the  time.  These  are  believed  to  have  been  the  first 
Unitarian  services  ever  held  in  Portland. 

It  is  impossible  to  say  how  long  things  might 
have  continued  thus,  had  not  the  loyalty  of  the  few 
Liberal  Christians  to  their  religious  convictions   been 


FIRST  UNITAKIAN  CHURCH. 


suddenly  and  deeply  aroused.  One  Sunday  ujoinin^ 
in  1865,  one  of  the  ministers  of  the  city,  for  lack  of  a 
better  theme,  made  a  violent  attack  upon  the  Unita- 
rian faith,  which  he  continued  for  several  Sundays. 
It  wr.is  Uiit  witliout  its  effect.  Several  lil)Hrally  minded 
members  of  his  conpjregation  met  ar  tlie  door,  as  they 
went  out  after  one  of  tliese  sermons,  and  at  once 
formed  the  resolve  to  take  steps  toward  a  Liberal  or- 
ganization of  their  own.  No  immediate  organized  re- 
sult followed;  but  the  Liberal  Christians  were  from 
now  on  drawn  more  closely  to  each  other. 

At  the  same  time  other  forces  had  been  moving 
toward  the  same  end.  Mrs.  Thomas  Frazar  had  from 
the  first  longed  earnestly  for  a  churcli  of  her  own  faith. 
For  this  she  prayed  and  planned  for  years;  and  it  was 
in  her  heart,  and  by  her  faith,  more  than  that  of  any 
other  one  person,  that  the  church  was  founded.  She 
was  ever  hoping  to  find  material  enough  to  form  a 
Unitarian  organization.  In  1863,  in  the  work  of  the 
Sanitary  Commission,  she  became  acquainted  with  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Charles  W.  Burrage,  devoted  Unitarians  who 
had  come  to  Portland  a  few  months  previously  from 
Leominster,  Mass.,  and  who  were  the  first  iiersonsshe 
had  found  who  seemed  to  l)e  in  full  sympathy  with 
her  religious  beliefs.  Their  common  faith  drew  them 
more  and  more  together.  They  added  to  each  oth- 
er's zeal;  and  the  result  at  length  was  that,  with  a  few 
kindred  spirits,  the  first  step  in  organization  was 
taken  in  December,  1865,  in  the  forming  of  the  La- 
dies' Sewing  Society. 


THE  HISTORY  OF  THE 


Tliere  had  Hlready  been  Unitarian  preacliing  in 
Poithuul  as  early  as  1862.  In  July  of  that  year,  liev. 
ThoiHJis  StaiT  Kiiiy-  of  San  Francisco,  while  on  a  lec- 
turing tour,  preaclied  in  tiie  Methodist  church  on 
Taylor  street  on  a  Sunday  afternoon,  and  lectured 
there  tln-ee  ilays  later.  ].,etters  are  still  extant, 
written  by  him  to  Mr.  Frazar,  arranging  for  ti)e 
visit.  But  Mr.  King's  ol)ject  was  not  a  missionary 
one;  and  tliougli  even  then  earnestly  longed  for,  an 
organization  was  not  yet  thought  possible. 

But  on  December  13,  1865,  a  few  of  the  women  in- 
terested in  the  cause  of  Liberal  Christianity  met  .at 
the  house  of  Mr.  Ira  Goodnough,  on  Yamhill  street,  be- 
low Fifth,  on  the  spot  where  the  Goodnough  building 
now  stands,  opposite  the  Post-office.  These  were  Mrs. 
Mary  E.  Frazar,  Mrs.  Sarah  J.  Burrage,  Airs.  Nancy 
E.  Goodnough,  Mrs.  Anna  Cooke,  Mrs.  Lydia  M. 
Wright,  Mrs.  M.  A.  Abbott.  Mrs.  Rosa  F.  Burrell. 
They  had  come  togetiier  "for  the  purpose  of  organiz- 
ing a  Society  for  the  promotion  of  the  Cause."'  Mrs. 
P'razar  was  chosen  Chairman,  and  Mrs.  Abbott  Sec- 
retary; and  the  first  business  done  was  the  adoption 
of  the  following  preamble,  which  had  been  previously 
prepared  by  Mrs.  Frazar: 

"We,  The  friends  of  Liberal  Ciiristianity,  pioneers  of  that 
Christian  Faith  in  tliis  new  land,  do  here  unite  for  the  purpose 
of  streng'thening  each  other  in  the  same,  and  pledg'e  ourselves, 
God  helping,  that  by  prayer  and  earnest  effort  we  will  use  every 
endeavor  to  promote  and  advance  the  Cause." 

At  a  meeting  held  at  the  house  of  Mrs.  Burrage 
two  weeks  later,  a  constitution  was   adopted,    and   a 


FIRST  UNITAKIAN  CHURCH. 


permanent  organization  effected,  under  the  name  ot 
"The  Ladies' Sewing  Society,"  to  which  were  after- 
wards added  tlie  woids,  -'of  the  First  Unitarian  Soci- 
ety, Portland,  Oregon."  Mrs.  Frazar  was  the  tirst 
President.  Tiie  Society  held  weekly  meetings  for 
worli  at  the  houses  of  the  members  on  Thursday  aft- 
ernoons, at  which  they  usually  earned  money  by  tak- 
ing in  sewing.  Meetings  have  been  held  on  Wednes- 
day afternoons  since  1872,  and  in  the  cliurch  parh)r 
since  1880,  and  Jiave  been  nninterrui)ted  during  all 
the  twenty-seven  years  since  the  forming  of  the  Soci- 
ety. Besides  their  weekly  meetings,  the  ladies  held 
monthly  socials,  arranged  occasional  entertainments 
and  festivals,  and  were  in  every  way  the  center  of  or- 
ganized life  among  the  Liberal  Christians  until  the 
forming  of  the  First  Unitarian  Society. 

Indeed  it  is  doubtful  whether  any  dehnite  move- 
ment would  have  taken  shape  for  a  long  time,  had  it 
not  been  for  the  devoted  and  unflagging  work  of  the 
Ladies'  Sewing  Society.  With  an  average  weekly 
attendance  of  but  seven,  the  earnings  of  their  first 
year  were  almost  $400. 00;  while  the  deeper  results  of 
nourishing  faith  and  arousing  zeal,  were  greater  than 
can  be  estimated.  They  testified  their  faith  in  the 
future  of  their  cause  by  sending  the  thirty  dollars  first 
earned  to  Rev.  Horatio  Stebbins  of  San  Francisco, 
then  the  only  Unitarian  minister  on  the  Pacific  Coast,  to 
buy  a  communion  service — the  same  that  is  still  used 
by  the  church.  During  the  following  year,  too,  they 
again  anticipated  the  future  by  purchasing  the  begin- 


10  THE  IIISTOKV  OF  THE 

tiiiiss  of  a  parish  lil)rary,  and  a  Suiulay-scliool  libi-ary 
for  a  Siinday-Hcliiiol  which  as  yet  existed  only  in  their 
am  icipations;  and  it  was  tiie  fact  tliat  they  had 
$•5(10.00  to  he^in  witii  that  determined  tlie  trustees  to 
build  a  chapel  even  before  a  minister  was  obtained. 

The  next  step  forward,  after  formintj  the  Ladies' 
Sewing'  Society,  was  taken  in  January.  1806,  when 
the  friends  of  Ijiberai  Christianity  in  Portland,  desir- 
ing? to  establisli  a  church  as  soon  as  iwssible,  wrote  to 
Rev.  Mr.  Stebbins,  inviting  him  to  come  and  preach  a 
few  Sundays,  that  he  might  call  together  the  friends 
of  the  cause,  and  judge  whether  there  were  sufflcieut 
strength  to  warrant  the  organization  of  a  church. 
Ilis  church  in  San  Francisco  kindly  gave  him  leave; 
and  he  came  in  April  of  that  year,  and  stayed  three 
weeks.  lie  preached  with  great  acceptance  on  three 
successive  Sundays  in  the  basement  of  the  Baptist 
church;  and  on  intervening  days  awakened  interest 
among  the  people.  During  his  visit  he  also  held  a 
communion  service  at  the  house  of  Mr.  Ira  Good- 
nougii,  and  at  tlie  same  time  baptised  seven  children 
of  Unitarian  parents.*  In  those  various  ways  fresh 
zeal  was  aroused  among  the  old  friends  of  the  cause; 
and  many  nsw  sym]nithizers  were  called  forth,  who 
had  never  before  heard  Liberal  Christianity  preached, 
but  who  now  found  that  it  harmonized  with  their  own 


*  The  service  was  arranged  at  the  Instance  of  Mrs.  W.  W. 
Spfliildiiia-,  and  tlie  children  iiapti/ed  were  Clia'-les  Franci'*  Huv- 
ratic.  Iviward  Hills  Huri'ape.  William  Henry  Rurrairo.  Ed^ar 
Aion/.o(;()()dn(ui^fh.  Mary  (ierlru<le  (ioodnoiigh,  Rena  Bliss Good- 
nousfli,  and  William  Wallace  Spauldinjf. 


FIRST  UNI'JAUI AN  CHUKCH.  11 


couvictidiis  of  God,  Tnill:  ;iii(l  Duty,  jiihI  snii>li((l  :i 
Avuit  in  their  religious  iialures  wliicli  oi  In  r  cliurc  lies 
had  not  met,  and  could  not  meet. 

Ai'tei- Mr.  Steliliin.s'  liist  Snndjiy  in  Porthind.  a 
social  meeting  was  lieid  at  the  house  of  Mrs.  Anna 
Cooke,  known  as  the  "Rohliins  House. "  on  tlie  west 
side  of  First  stieet.  between  what  are  now  Everett 
and  Fhuiders  streets.  At  this  meeting  Mi-.  Stel)hins 
spoke  on  the  importance  of  tiie  movement,  and  called 
on  the  men  i)resent  to  put  their  action  into  definit*' 
form.  A  subscription  paper  was  at  once  diawn  up  to 
see  liow  mui-h  (;ould  be  I'aised  to  purchase  a  lot.  and 
to  pay  a  minister's  salaiy.  The  sums  of  $l,17')(io. 
and  $800.00  were  immediately  subscribed  for  the^e 
j)urposes  res|;ectively,  and  the  subsciiptions  weje  in- 
creased, before  Mr.  SteV)bins'  return,  to  $1,700.00  and 
$1.()00.00.  Mr.  Stebbins  advised  that  a  Society  be 
formed  and  a  minister  called,  and  returned  home 
highly  gratilied  with  the  |)i'ospect8. 

.After  the  services  of  the  second  Sunday,  Messrs. 
Thomas  Frazar,  Charles  W.  Huirage.  Erasmus  1). 
Shattuck,  James  W.  Cook,  and  Robert  H.  Tliomi>son 
were  constituted  an  executive  committee  to  transact 
business  until  a  permanent  organization  should  be  ef- 
fected. This  committee  called  the  lirst  meeting  of 
the  subscribers  at  the  Council  Chamber.  May  1,  l}-6(i, 
at  which  a  committee  was  chosen  to  collect  subscrip- 
tion-^.  and  to  negotiate  for  the  purciiase  of  a  lot  suit- 
alile  for  a  building.  \{  a  meeting  held  on  .June  20, 
18(56,  at  the  otllce  of  Mr.  Thomas  Fraz  ir.  on  the  soul  h- 


12  Tllli  IIISTOKV  OV  THE 

east  corner  of  Front  and  Alder  streets,  a  constitution 
(closely  modeled  upon  tliat  of  the  San  Francisco  So- 
ciety) was  adopted,  and  received  twenty-four  signers 
at  once;*  and  the  organization  of  tlicFirst  Unitarian 
Society  of  Portland,  Oregon,"  w;is  completed  four 
days  later,  by  the  election  of  the  following  gentlemen 
as  trnstees:  Thomas  Frazar,  Erasmus  U.  Sliattuck, 
Robert  H.  Thompson,  James  W.  Cook,  "Richard  A. 
White,  James  M.  Gilman,  William  F.  Wilcox,  Ira 
Goodnough,  and  Charles  W.  Barrage.  The  Society 
was  incorporated  July  9,  1866,  with  the  trustees  as 
incorporators.! 

Soon  after  his  visit  to  Portland,  Mr.  Stebbins  had 
opened  a  correspondence  with  Rev.  Eli  Fay,  then  at 
Woburn,  Mass.,  with  regard  to  his  becoming  pastor 
of  the  new  church;  but  the  call  was  not  accepted.  A 
Rev.  Mr.  Young  was  next  negotiated  with,  and  ac- 
cepted; but  he  afterwards  withdrew  his  acceptance. 
The  matter  seems  then  to  have  been  dropped  for  a 
time;  but  at  a  meeting  of  the  trustees  held  on  Jauu- 
ury  29.  1867,  the  Clerk  was  '-insti  acted  to  inform 
Rev.  Horatio  Stebbins  of  San  Fratici.sco  that  this  So- 
ciety desires  him  to  use  every  means  to  procure  us  a 
minister  as  speedily  as  possible;  and  if  communica- 
tion with  the  ministers  at  the  East  can  beexi»eilited  by 
telegrapliing,  to  draw  on  us  for  the  necessary  funds.'' 
While  correspondence  on  this  subject  was  progressing, 


*  Spo  Appendix  A  for  the  Constitution  and  tlie  names  of  the 
original  signers. 

+  See  Appendix  B  for  the  Articles  of  Incorporation. 


X 


\ 


Thk  Chapel  (Interior) 

As    DECORATICI)    FOR    THK    FIRST    HARVEST   CONCKRT. 


FIRST  UNITARIAN  CHURCH.  13 

Steps  were  also  taken  loward  procuring  a  lot  and 
building,  against  tlie  time  of  the  minister's  coming. 
After  the  usual  preliminaries,  t\>o  lots  at  the  south- 
west corner  of  Yamhill  and  Seventh  streets  were 
purchased  of  Mr.  H.  W.  Corbett  for  the  sum  of  $2,000. 
The  site  was  then  at  the  extreme  outskirts  of  the 
city.  In  August  of  the  same  year,  construction  was 
commenced  on  a  chai)el  -50x60  feet,  the  same  room 
being  still  occupied  by  the  Sunday-school.  The  build- 
ing was  completed,  free  from  debt,  at  a  cost  of  about 
$2,200.00,  and  was  furnished,  ready  for  occupancy, 
before  the  end  of  the  year,  or  the  arrival  of  a  minis- 
ter. The  cliapel  was  a  cozy  little  building,  seating 
about  200  people,  uncarpeted,  and  furnished  with 
plain  wooden  benches.  The  Ladies'  Sewing  Society, 
besides  giving  $800.00  or  $900.00  toward  the  lot  and 
building,  gave  the  furnishings;  while  one  of  its  mem- 
bers provided  the  organ.  The  hymn-books  and  pulpit 
Bible  were  presented  by  the  San  Francisco  Society; 
and  the  Bible,  which  is  still  in  use,  was  the  one  for- 
mei'ly  used  h\  Starr  King  in  his  pulpit  in  San  Fran- 
cisco. 

In  Octolier,  ISOT.  word  was  received  through  llev. 
Charles  Lowe,  the  Secretary  of  the  American  I'nita- 
rian  .\ssociation,  s;iying  that  llev.  Thomas  L.  Eliot 
of  St.  Louis  had  accepted  a  call  to  be  the  minister  of 
the  young  Society.*    He  had  come  to  San   Francisco 


■*  Tlmchnrfre  of  obtaininp  a  minister  for  ilie  Society  had  been 
left  K)  Rev.  >lr.  Lowe  For  iiis  letter  calling-  Mr.  Eliot,  see  Ap- 
pendix C. 


14  THE  lIIfeTOIlY  OF  THE 


several  years  before,  on  rt  voyage  for  his  health,  and 
i:a(l  then  leceived  that  impression  of  tlie  opportuni- 
ties wliich  the  Pacific  Coast  offered  a  minister  for  in- 
fluence and  usefulness,  which  now  led  him  to  accept 
tlie  call.  He  came  from  St.  Louis  by  the  way  of  New 
York  and  tlie  Isthmus,  and  reached  Portland  on 
Tuesday,  December  24,  1867.  From  the  day  of  his 
arrival,  the  young  Society  began  a  career  of  growth 
and  prosperity  which  has  continued  without  hindrance 
to  the  present  day.  The  history  of  llnitarianism  in 
Portlanii  from  that  date,  is  one  with  the  history  of 
the  Society's  first  pastor. 

The  chapel  was  dedicated  on  the  afternoon  of  the 
next  Sunday,  December  29  (a  service  had  also  Iteen 
held  in  the  forenoon),  and  was  crowded  to  its  full  ca- 
{)acity.  The  sermon  was  preached  by  Mr.  Eliot, 
while  the  ministers  of  several  of  the  other  churches 
in  the  city  expressed  their  good-will  by  assisting  in 
the  services.! 

Oii  the  next  Sunday  a  Sunday-school  was  formed, 
twenty-five  persons  being  present.  It  was  organized 
two  weeks  later  with  seven  classes,  about  fifty  mem- 
bers, and  Mr.  Eliot  as  its  first  Superintendent. 

The  ''First  Unitarian  Society"  had  been  formed 
chiefly  as  a  business  organization,  existing  for  the 
purpose  of  supporting  public  worship  and  holding  the 
property  devoted  to  that  end.  In  the  spring  of  1868, 
soon  after  the  pastor's    arrival,    there    was    formed 

+  For  the  order  of  tte  services  of  dedication,  see  Appendix 
D. 


FIRST  UNITARIAN  CHURCH.  '15 

the  "Body  of  Con)iiiniiicHJits  of  the  First 
Unitarian  Society,''  a  body  existing  under  articles  and 
a  Covenant,  on  the  basis  of  religious  fellowsliip.  The 
original  members  of  ''the  Churcli,"  as  this  body  has 
come  to  be  known  in  distinction  from  "the  Society,'' 
woe  tliirty-one.J  This  double  organization  of  Society 
and  Church  was  made  after  the  excellent  custom  of 
all  the  older  New  England  parishes;  and  the  Coveu- 
aiit  adoi)ted  by  the  Church  was  tlie  san)e  that  had 
been  in  use  in  the  Second  Church  in  Boston  for  two 
hundred  yenrs.  As  the  Society  came  together  at  its 
annual  business  meeting,  so  the  Church  met  at  the 
observance  of  the  Lord's  Supper,  which  rite  it  ob- 
serves together  with  that  of  Baptism.  The  commun- 
ion service  was  at  first  held  monthly  at  the  time  of 
Sunday  evening  service,  but  is  now  held  on  stated  days 
five  times  yearly. 

The  young  pastor  soon  began  to  reach  out  be- 
yond the  narrow  limits  of  his  own  parish.  After  the 
change  of  the  second  of  the  Sunday  services  from  the 
afternoon,  when  it  was  at  first  held,  to  the  evening, 
he  used  for  years  to  go  frequently  to  liold  services  at 
the  County  Farm,  at  the  Insane  Asylum  in  East  Port- 
land, or  at  the  County  Jail.  Early  in  1869  a  still 
more  radical  move  was  made  in  order  to  reach  the 
unchurched.  There  were  large  nun  bers  of  men  in 
the  city  who  never  went  to  church;  and,  had  they 
cared  to  go,  the  Unitarian  chapel   was  then   thought, 

*  r<ir  the  articles  and  Covenant,  and  the  names  of  the  oriiari- 
nal  members,  SCO  Appendix  E. 


16  THE  IIISTOIIY  OF  THE 

especially  on  stoiniy  iiiid  niiuldy  nights  of  winter,  too 
far  out  of  town.  It  was  deteiniioed  if  possible  to 
reach  these  niid  others  by  a  seiies  of  i)<)|)idar  services. 
The  Oro  Fitio  Theatre,  which  stood  on  the  west  side 
of  First  street,  between  Staik  and  Oak  streets, 
where  the  Union  Block  now  is,  was  hired  for  a  series 
of  Sunday  evening  services,  which  were  continued  from 
January  10  to  April  8.  The  seruu)ns  preached  were 
principally  piactical  ones,  but  in  some  of  them  there 
were  given  clear  stateuients  of  the  position  of  Liberal 
Christianity.  Their  success  w'as  great.  The  theater 
was  crowded.  Men  who  had  not  been  inside  a  church 
for  years  came  constantly,  and  testified  with  tears  to 
the  benefit  they  had  received.  But  at  the  same  time 
interest  of  a  different  sort  was  being  aroused.  A 
sermon  on  "Retribution,"  i)reached  by  Mr.  Eliot  in 
the  theatre  on  -lanuary  31,  called  forth  earnest  pro- 
test from  those  who  disagreed  with  its  doctrine.  The 
other  ministers  of  the  city  felt  that  its  dangerous  in- 
fluence must  be  counteracted  by  a  reply  from  one  of 
their  own  nimiber.  Tlie  theatre  was  offered  them 
for  the  purpose;  and  the  lot  fell  upon  Rev.  E.  C.  .An- 
derson of  tlie  Baptist  church,  who  replied  in  a  sermon 
of  great  ability  preached  before  one  of  the  largest  au- 
diences that  had  ever  assembled  in  the  city  for  re- 
ligious purposes.  To  this  Mr.  Eliot  replied  the  fol- 
lowing Sunday  evening;  ana  there  the  public  debate, 
which  had  been  conducted  with  entire  courtesy  and 
fairness,  ended. 

But  there  were  those  who  not  only   believed   the 


FIRST  UNITARIAN  CHURCH.  17 

doctrines  of  the  Unitarians  to  be  (laiigeioii.s,  but  felt 
that  out  of  a  theatre  no  good  thing  could  proceed.  A 
number  of  communications  appealed  in  both  the  re- 
ligions and  seculnr  pajieis  of  tlie  city,  direct eil  <igaii:st 
the  new  cliurcJi  and  its  minister;  and  some  of  them,  in 
the  heat  of  the  moment,  were  not  altogetlier  free  from 
l)ersonal  abuse.  It  was  more  tlian  hinted  that  one 
who  would  preach  such  doctrines  in  such  a  phice  must, 
(though  perliaps  without  deliberately  intending  it)  be 
lending  himself  to  the  sujjport  of  loose  morals;  and  it 
was  even  intimated  that  there  had  been  a  collusion 
between  the  Uintarian  Society  and  the  owneis 
of  the  theatre  for  the  jiuii)ose  of  making  the- 
atre-going reputable! 

With  the  close  of  the  theatre  sermons  in  tJie 
spring,  however,  the  storm  subsided.  Its  effect  had 
been  to  detine  more  clearly  the  difference  between  the 
new  church  and  its  elder  sisters,  and  to  bind  its  own 
members  more  devotedly  to  one  another,  and  to  their 
common  cause;  while  tlie  popular  services,  and  the 
o|)p()sition  which  accompanied  them,  gained  for  the 
new  church  an  influence  over  the  unchurched  which 
has  not  been  lost  to  this  day.  One  of  these  theatre 
sermons,  on  '-Liberal  Christianity:  what  it  is  and 
what  it  is  not,"  the  tirst  of  Mr.  Eliot's  to  appear  in 
print,  made  a  profound  impression,  and  was  spoken 
of  for  many  years  afterwards.  A  series  of  six  ser- 
mons was  again  preached  in  the  theatre  the  next 
winter,  on  practical  religious  and  moral  themes;  but 
the  hostilitv  of  the  vear  before  was  not  renewed. 


18  'llIK  lllcTOKY  OF  TIIK 


Early  in  tlie  secdiKl  .ycjir  (if  the  pastorate,  tlie 
coiigrt'<iutioiis  liad  so  increased  that  it  became  neces- 
sary tu  |>nt  in  a  gallery  at  the  end  of  the  chapel.  The 
Sunday-school  had  now  grown  to  125,  and  the  infant 
class,  under  the  charge  of  Mrs.  Iknrage,  occupied  the 
gallery  until  the  new  church  \va.s  built. 

The  church  early  began  to  give  its  attention  to 
philanthropy.  During  its  first  yeai%  upon  a  suggestion 
made  by  Mr.  R.  R.  Thompson,  monthly  collections  for 
the  i)oor  were  instituted.  The  first  year's  collections 
for  this  purpose  amounted  to  nearly  $300.00,  and  the 
first  expenditures  from  the  fund  were  for  a  Thanks- 
giving dinner  for  the  inmates  of  the  County  Jail,  who 
were  then  far  more  wretr-hed  than  now.  The  pastor 
and  many  of  the  members  were  active  in  the  move- 
ments for  Temperance  and  Woman's  Suffrage,  in  hu- 
mane work,  in  the  establishment  of  the  Ladies'  Re- 
lief Society  and  of  the  Children's  Home;  and  have  had 
an  influential  part  in  almost  every  movement  for 
moral  or  social  reform  in  Portland  during  the  last 
twenty-five  years.  In  the  first  five  years  of  the  church 
about  $1,400.00  were  expended  through  the  pastor  for 
charities. 

By  the  summer  of  1870  the  pastor's  health  had 
become  so  much  impaired  by  the  severe  work  of  build- 
ing up  a  new  church  in  a  new  town,  almost  a  thous- 
and miles  from  the  sympathy  and  support  of  another 
body  of  tho  same  faith,  and  in  the  face  of  opposition 
which  was  none  the  less  bitter  for  being  deeply  sin- 
cere, that  he  was  compelled  to  ask  a  leave  of  absence. 


FIRST  UNITARIAN  CHURCH.  19 

and  spent  several  months  in  llie  East.  The  pnlpit 
was  most  acceptably  snpplied  dining  this  time  by  Rev. 
John  William  Hudson  of  PealKxly,  Mass.  While  in 
the  East,  Mr.  Eliol  still  rememt)ere<l  his  woik  on  the 
Pacific  Coast;  and  as  the  result  of  iiis  efforts,  tlie 
American  Unitarian  Association  sent  out,  etiily  in 
the  following  year,  Kev.  John  C.  Kimball  of  Beverly, 
Mass.  Dnring  the  winter  and  spring  of  1871,  he  did 
missionary  preaching  in  n)any  towns  in  the  Willam- 
ette and  Columbia  valleys,  and  was  heaid  seveial 
times  in  Portland.  lie  went  at  length  to  Olymjiia, 
W.  T.,  then  the  most  important  town  on  Puget  Sound, 
and  there  established  a  Unitarian  cl)urch. 

The  next  few  years  were  a  time  of  quiet  inward 
growtii,  marked  by  little  variety.  CoJitroveisy  witli 
other  churches  had  nearly  died  out;  and  thongli  little 
hospitality  was  yet  shown  to  the  Unitarian  chnrch. 
Still  it  and  its  pastor  h.ad  won  a  position  in  tiie  com- 
munity which  brought  hearty  respect,  if  not  brotiierly 
love.  During  these  yeais  the  church  and  congrega- 
tion giew  slowly  but  steadily.  The  number  of  eain- 
est  workers  increased.  Devotion  to  the  cause  of  Lib- 
eral Christiaiuty  grew  deeper.  The  preaching  mag- 
nilied  the  positive  virtues  of  Christian  character,  and 
left  controversy  for  the  most  part  aside.  AVork  out- 
side the  pirish,  since  the  work  of  construction  was 
now  well  established,  was  largely  increaseil.  On  al- 
most every  Si.nday  afternoon  for  several  years,  the 
pastor  used  to  pi  each  at  the  Insane  Asylum,  or  at 
the    County   Jail,  or  at  the  County  Farm,  until  such 


20  'IIIE  HISTORY  OF  TIIK 

work  was  regulaily  iiiKleital<en  by  »»tlier  ministers  of 
the  city;  and  he  also  held  services  now  and  then  in 
school-houses  in  Albina,  8t.  Jolms  and  Oswe^jfo. 

The  work  of  cluirlty  widened  and  took  more  def- 
inite siiape.  In  1871  over  $7(10.00  were  raised  for 
cliarital>le  purposes.  Libraries  were  placed  in  the 
County  Jail  and  in  tlie  Insane  Asylum;  and  the  regu- 
lar distribution  of  lapers  to  the  inmates  of  these  in- 
stitutions was  begun,  which  has  been  continued  ever 
since.  In  the  same  year  the  Sunday-school  had  reached 
a  mend)ership  of  150,  had  500  volumes  in  its  library, 
and  raised  (jver  $2.50.00  for  its  work. 

The  Ladies'  Sewing  Society,  too,  flourished  as 
never  before.  Its  membership  and  attendance  in- 
creased. The  entertainments  it  gave  became  famous 
for  their  miiqueness  and  excellence.  Tlie  amount  of 
money  it  earned  was  large.  It  provided  the  music  for 
the  church;  anil  at  one  time,  from  its  accumulated 
funds,  paid  off  a  debt  of  several  hundred  dollars, 
which  had  accrued  against  the  Society  and  caused 
the  trustees  no  little  uneasiness.  In  1S71  it  also 
raised  $165.00  for  the  svifferers  by  forest  flres  in  Mich- 
igan and  Wisconsin,  and  sent  them  two  large  boxes 
of  clothing— the  first  instance  of  its  working  for  gen- 
eral charitable  objects  outside  the  church.  At  this 
time  it  had  about  tifty  members. 

Ill  1874  aji  episode  occi.rred  wliich  left  a  deep  im- 
pression upon  the  church,  and  i)artiy  revived  an  old 
unfriendliness  that  had  slumbered  for  some  years. 
The  constitution  of  the  Young  Men's  Christian  Asso- 


FIRST  UNITARIAN  CHURCH.  21 

elation  then,  as  now,  admitted  as  active  members  only 
those  who  belonged  to  Evangelical  churches.  But 
Mr.  Eliot  had  been  for  some  years  an  "associate 
member."  and  had  to  some  extent  united  in  its 
work.  It  was  now  proposed  by  several  intluential  act- 
ive members  of  the  Association,  that  the  word  -'Evan- 
gelical"  be  dropped  from  the  constitution,  so  that 
Unitarians  and  otner  Liberal  Christians  who  wished 
to  do  so  might  be  admitted  to  membership  with  full 
privileges.  Mr.  Eliot  was  invited  to  attend  the  meet- 
ing at  wliich  the  vote  was  to  be  taken  upon  the 
change.  Being  urged,  he  did  so,  though  with  much 
hesitation;  wlien,  to  the  great  surprise  of  those  wiio 
had  invited  him,  the  motion  was  earnestly  opposed 
and  lost.  The  word  "Evangelicar-  was  retained,  and 
by  so  decisive  a  vote  that  the  Unitarians  who  were 
ujembers  of  the  Association,  or  contributors  to  its 
funds,  felt  that  they  could  not,  with  self-respect,  con- 
tinue to  join  in  its  work.  The  vote  expressed  no 
feeling  of  unkindness,  for  those  that  appreciated  its 
deeper  cause  and  meaning,  but  simply  the  earnest 
conviction  that  the  welfare  and  usefulness  of  the 
Young  Men's  Christian  Association  demanded  that 
its  standard  be  still  kept  uncompromisingly  orthodox. 
And  it  was  undoubtedly  best,  both  for  the  Associa- 
tion and  those  who  were  thus  excluded  from  full  mem- 
bership in  it,  that  the  distinction  between  two  radic- 
ally different  forms  of  faith  should  be  kept  clear. 

A  .Sunday  or  two  later  (December  20)  the  pastor 
preached  a  sermon,    occasioned  by  this  circum.stance, 


22  THE  lliSTOUY  OF  THE 

wliicli  marked  an  epoch  in  the  internal  liistory  of  tlie 
church,  and  was  widely  noticed  east  and  west.  Jts 
subject  was  "•Evangelical  dliristianity,'''  and  it  clearly 
defined  the  fundamental  difference  between  Liberal 
Christianity  and  Orthodoxy.*  From  that  day  the 
ciiurch  begun  to  realize  as  never  before  that  its  mis- 
sion was  distinct  from  that  of  the  other  churches  in 
the  city;  and  that  while  their  broad  aims  were  the 
same,  yet  the  principles  upcn  which  they  iirocceded, 
and  the  standpoint  from  which  they  looked  atmatters 
of  religion,  were  so  radically  opposed  to  each  other, 
that  any  close  union  between  them  was  impossible 
except  by  a  sacrifice  of  principle,  and  tlierefore  ought 
not  to  be  expected.  The  episode  naturally  aroused 
some  feeling  among  those  that  saw  only  its  surface, 
and  did  not  appreciate  the  principles  it  involved. 
Some  harsh  words  were  spoken,  and  some  unkind 
things  written  in  the  papers,  both  against  the  pastor 
and  by  his  friends;  and  the  memory  of  it  all  still  re- 
mains with  not  a  few.  But  the  important  effect  of 
the  whole  was  a  clearer  understanding  by  the  church 
of  differences  which  had  sooner  or  later  to  be  defined, 
before  it  could  see  its  own  work  distinctly,  or  do  it 
well. 

In  l!374  Mr.  Eliot,  while  on  a  vacation  trip  to 
the  East,  was  permitted  to  extend  his  time  so  as  to 
attend  the  National  Conference  of  Unitarian  Churches. 


*T!iis  sermon  -n-as  re-written  in  1892,  and  published  as  a  tr.'ict, 
with  the  title,  "The  Radical  Difference  between  Liberal  Chris- 
tianity and  Orthodoxy." 


FIRST  UNITARIAN  CHURCH.  23 

His  pulpit  was  kindly  supplied  during  Lis  absence  by 
Rev.  Chauncy  Park  (Presbyteiian);  and  as  the  lesult 
of  his  visit,  Rev.  iJavid  N.  Utter,  of  Belfast,  Me.,  was 
induced  to  come  out  the  next  year  and  take  char<:e  of 
the  church  in  Olytnpia,  which  had  been  left  vacant 
by  the  return  east  of  Rev.  Mr.  Kimball. 

Early  in  the  seventies  the  congregation  hnd 
grown  so  much  that  the  need  of  a  new  church  build- 
ing began  to  be  felt.  This  thought  filled  the  minds 
of  the  Ladies'  Sewing  Society,  and  for  seven  jears 
continually  inspired  their  effort.  As  ten  years  pre- 
viously they  had  never  fo)g()tten  for  a  day  that  thfv 
must  have  a  church  and  minister  of  their  own.  so 
now  they  remembered  almost  weekly  (as  their  records 
of  the  time  show)  what  was  the  object  of  their  pres- 
ent work;  and  toward  this  they  labored  for  several 
years  before  any  definite  move  was  made  by  others. 

At  the  annual  meeting  of  the  First  Unitarian  So- 
ciety held  January  12,  1875,  a  day  and  evening  mem- 
orable for  the  severest  snow  storm  of  twenty- five 
years,  with  the  temperature  below  zero,  the  first  for- 
mal steps  were  taken  toward  a  new  building;  and  a 
resolution  was  unanimously  adopted:  ''That  steps  be 
taken  to  build  a  church  edifice,  to  cost  completed  not 
less  than  $20,()oO.OO.''  Messrs,  Charles  Hodge  and 
John  L.  Barnard,  and  Rev.  T.  L.  Eliot  were  ap- 
pointed a  committee  to  solicit  subscriptions  for  the 
building  fund.  It  was  determined  at  the  start  that 
the  new  church  should  not  be  built  until  sutlicient 
funds  should  be  raised  to  complete  it  free  from  debt; 


Ii4  THE  IIISTOKY  OP^  TIIK 

and  lliis  ivsolutioti  was  steatl lastly  adhered  to.  It 
was  more  tliaii  four  years  before  the  church  was  com- 
pleted; and  meanwhile  failing-  health  conipelled  the 
pastor  again  to  leave  his  parish. 

Mr.  Eliot  lesigned  his  office  as  i)astorsooii  after  the 
annual  meeting  in  1876,  in  order  to  take  an  indefinite 
period  of  rest  from  his  labors.  The  Society  unani- 
mously voted  not  to  ao(!ept  tlie  resignation,  but  in- 
stead granted  a  twelve  months'  leave  of  absence. 
He  left  Portland  immediately  after  Easter,  and 
spent  a  long  vacation  in  Europe,  returning,  after  a 
fourteen  months'  absence,  in  July,  1877,  with  health 
much  improved.  The  pulpit  was  supplied  during  the 
interval  by  different  persons,  chiefly  by  Kev.  David  N. 
Utter,  of  Ohmpia,  until  a  regular  supply  wasobtained 
in  the  person  of  Rev.  Eldward  I.  Galvin*  of  German- 
town,  Penn.,  who  ministered  with  great  acceptance 
until  Mr.  Eliot's  retin-n.  He  then  took  charge  of  tlie 
church  at  Walla  Walla,  W.  T..  which  had  sprung  up 
from  seed  sown  by  Rev.  Mr.  Kimball  six  years  before. 
It  was  felt  by  the  church,  during  Mr.  Eliot's  ab- 
sence from  it,  that  the  distributing  of  the  charitable 
funds  contributed  in  the  monthly  collections,  which 
had  hitherto  l)een  left  to  the  pastor,  should  still  go  on; 
and  an  organization  was  therefore   formed    to    carry 

*  During- hirt  ministry  in  Portland,  Mr.  Galvin  was  the  chief 
instrumentality  in  starting-  the  Open  Temperance  Meetinfr,  whicli 
met  Saturday  eveninjis  I'or  some  years  after  in  Culumbia  Hall, 
OH  First  street,  near  Alder,  and  which  did  a  representative  work 
in  theconuiuniity.  Tr  was  one  of  the  best  forms  of  temperance 
work  ever  done  iti  the  city. 


FIRST  UNITARIAN  CHURCH.  25 

on  1  lie  work  efficiently.  It  was  called  the  Christian 
Union,  and  was  organized  May  4.  1876. t  This  soci- 
ety has  ever  since  administered  the  charitrible  funds 
of  the  church,  and  conducted  its  jjliilanlhroiiic  woiK. 
The  attendance  at  its  monthly  meetings  h;is  never 
been  large;  but  it  has  had  a  quiet  infiueiice  which  hfis 
in  many  cases  been  used  with  great  effect.  One  of 
its  liist  acts  was  to  ])romote  temjjerance  by  the  erec- 
tion of  several  public  drinking  fountains.  Its  com- 
mittees have  for  years  made  regular  visits  to  the 
County  Jail,  the  County  Farm,  the  Insane  Asylum, 
and  other  institutions  of  charity  and  correction,  dis- 
tributing reading  matter,  sometimes  funiisljing  small 
libraries,  and  adding  in  any  way  possible  to  the  Mel- 
fare  of  the  inmates.  It  early  presented  a  memorial 
to  the  Grand  Jury  on  the  disgraceful  sanitary  condi- 
tion of  the  County  Jail,  as  Mr.  Eliot  had  previously 
done  to  the  County  Cnui't,  and  suggested  plans  for 
improvements  which  may  be  supposed  to  have  had 
some  influence  in  bringing  about  the  partial  leforms 
afterwards  made.  It  inaugurated  in  1880  a  course  of 
lectures  on  tSocial  Science  which  were  given  in  the 
chapel  during  eight  successive  years,  on  practical  sub- 
jects described  by  the  title  of  the  course.  The  pro- 
ceeds of  these  lectures  were  used  in  the  purchase  of 
books  for  a  Social  Science  library. 

The  tenth  anniversary  of  the   dedication   of  the 

+  1'ho  tli'st  oftit-ers  of  tho  Clirisliim  I'liioii  were  Mr  .lolm  L. 
Barnard,  I'rosificiil ;  Miss  Helen  F.  Spaliiiiijr.  Vice-President;  Mr. 
Cornelius  K.  Stevonp,  [Secretary;  Mr.  Charles  W.  Uurrage,  Trtasi- 
urer. 


26  THE  HISTORY  OF  THE 

chapel  was  observed  on  Sunday,  December  30, 
1877,  by  special  services  and  u  historical  discourse. * 
A  few  (lays  before,  at  a  special  meeting^  of  the  Society 
held  December  3.  1877,  the  proposed  cost  of  the  new 
chxirch  building  was  reduced  from  $20,000.00  to  $15,- 
000.00;  and  it  was  voted  that  immediate  steps  be 
taken  towards  building  by  raising  the  required  amount. 
During  the  next  few  months  the  necessary  amount 
was  subscribed,  and  at  6:00  P.  M.,  on  July  21,  1878, 
the  corner  stone  of  the  new  edifice  was  laid  with  Ma- 
sonic rites  in  the  presence  of  a  large  number  of  peo- 
ple. Rev.  Mr.  Utter  offered  the  nrayer  and  made  a 
brief  address,  and  the  building  committee  and  finance 
committee  made  reports.  Following  these,  Mr.  Eliot 
made  an  address,  in  the  course  of  w^hich  he  said: 

"•Were  I  to  suggest  a  name  for  this  edifice,  as 
names  are  sometimes  given,  it  would  be  'Church  of 
Our  Father."  In  these  words  I  find,  by  direct  impli- 
cation, all  this  building  stands  for,  conceived  as  it 
has  been  iu  faith,  sustained  by  hope,  purchased  by 
love  and  sacrifice  of  its  people.  He  who  devoutly 
says  -Our  Father' has  not  only  a  religion  and  a  creed, 
but  he  has  religion  itself,  that  is  to  say,  the  essential 
motive  of  religion;  and  it  is  living  religion,  as  it  be- 
comes a  life  habit  of  the  spirit,  bearing  fruit  in  active 
righteousness  and  character.  'Church  of  Our  Fa- 
ther' may  we  spiritually  baptize  and  name  it  today 
May  he  accept  it — ratiier  may  he  give  it  to  us — as 
covenant  witness  of  a  conscious  presence  and  indwell- 
ing lifel" 

*  The  extent  of  the  Church's  work  during-  its  first  ten  years  is 
shown  by  the  statistics  g-iven  on  this  occasion:  810  sermons;  130 
funerals ;  112  weddings ;  185  baptisms  (4C  adults) ;  152  members  of 


The  Church  of  Our  Father. 


FIRST  UNITARIAN  CHURCH.  27 


It  was  thus  that  the  edifice  received  the  Hume 
whicli  it  has  since  borne. 

The  church,  the  plans  for  wliicii,  in  the ''Victoria 
Gothic"'  style,  had  been  drawn  by  the  well  known 
architects,  Peabody  and  Stearns  of  Boston,  was  liuilt 
on  the  vacant  lot  at  the  side  of  the  chapel,  to  which 
was  added,  at  the  same  time,  the  part  since  used  as  the 
cliurch  parlor  and  infant  classroom.  The  building  was 
completed  early  in  the  summer  of  1879;  and  throujili 
gieat  sacrifices,  was  dedicated  free  from  debt.f  The 
total  cost  was  about  $18,470.00,  of  which  the  Ladies' 
Sewing  Society  contributed  $:i,000.00;  and  friends  in 
St.  Louis  and  San  Francisco,  as  well  as  outside  the 
parish  in  Portland,  about  an  equal  sumi.  The  contri- 
butions were  further  increased  by  the  proceeds  of  lec- 
tures given  by  the  pastor,  materials  for  which  he  had 
brought  home  from  his  Euiopean  journey.  The  furn- 
ishings cost  about  $1,500.00  in  addition. j  After  a 
thorough  discussion  of  the  question  of  renting  the 
seats  in  the  new  church,  it  was  decided  by  a  large  ma- 
jority at  the  annual  meeting  of  the  Society  in  1 880,  that 
they  should  be  free;  and  they  have  always   remained 

the  Church;  over  60  services  at  the  Countv  Jail,  County  Farm. 
Insane  Asylum,  etc  •?24.H66.uO  spent  by  the  Society;  $2,223.00 
spent  for  charities;  $.500  t.i)  for  missionary  purposes. 

•'Tlio  finance  committee  was  Kev  T.  L.  Elior.  Col  P  R.  Skin- 
ner. .].  I..  Biirnard.  The  liuildinR  committee  consisted  of  Charles 
Ho<i>re.  S.  fi.lieed,  M.  S.  Hnrreil.E.  St  .Jolin.  an<i  Ira  Goodnoug-h. 
Mr.  (io^xinouKh  was  chosen  siiperinttMident  of  the  work. 

J  The  chandeliers  were  <iiveri  by  M  r-s.  Ebza  Francis,  the  pul- 
pit cbair  by  Mr.  Ira  F  I'owers,  tlu'  i)ul|)it  upholstery  by  the  Ore- 
g-on  Purnit.tre  Manufacturing'  Co.,  ami  the  communion  table 
and  chairs  by  a  society  of  g:irls  in  theSunday-scliool.  The  church 
was  not  carpeted  at  first. 


28  THE  HISTORY  OF  THE 

SO,  Tiecessary  funds  heiiiif  raised  liy  volimtaiy  coiitrilm- 
tioiis. 

Tlie  dedication  services  were  lield  on  Sunday. 
June  8,  1879,  at  2:30  P.  M.  Rev.  W.  W.  McKaig  of 
San  Jose,  Cal.,  read  the  scripture  lesson;  Rev.  David 
N.  Utter  of  Olympia,  offered  the  prayer  of  dedication; 
and  Rev.  Dr.  Horatio  Stebbins  of  San  Francisco 
preached  a  memorable  sermon  from  the  text,  '■'Things 
pertaining  to  the  kingdom  of  God,"  Acts  i.  3.  A 
service  had  been  held  in  the  forenoon,  at  which  a 
large  number  of  children  received  baptism,  also  a 
communion  service,  at  which  a  goodly  number  were 
received  into  the  Church. 

Immediately  after  the  dedication,  a  two  days' 
Conference  was  held  in  the  new  church,  at  which  all 
the  Unitarian  ministers  at  that  time  on  the  Pacitic 
Coast  were  present.  This  was  the  first  Unitarian 
Conference  ever  held  west  of  the  Missouri  River. 
Congregations  from  this  time  rapidly  increased,  anci 
greater  interest  was  manifested  in  the  work  of  the 
church.  During  the  early  months  of  1880,  a  series  cf 
week-day  meetings  was  held  in  the  chapel;  and  the 
custom  of  holding  religious  meetings  on  week-day  ev- 
enings during  the  season  preceding  Easter  has  been 
continued  ever  snice. 

On  Sunday,  September  5, 1880,  a  mission  Sunday- 
school  was  established  by  the  church  in  Caruthers 
Addition.  South  Portland.  It  met  at  first  in  the  house 
of  Mr.  Edward  E.  McClure,  and  soon  had  an  enroll- 
ment of  nearly  100.     That  part  of  the  city   was  then 


FIRST  UNITAKIAN  CHURCH.  29 


neglected,  thei'e  being  no  church  or  Sunday-s<'hool, 
and  no  convenient  nieuns  of  reaching  those  situated 
ill  tiie  central  part  of  the  city.  Tlie  Sunday-school 
thus  establislied  was  removed  tiie  next  year  to  tlie 
chapel  built  by  its  friends  on  Porter  street,  costing 
$500.00,  and  dedicated  on  Easter,  April  17,  18SI.  It 
was  maintained  there  through  ten  years,  and  had  a 
wide-spread  local  intluence.  Among  its  Suierintenu- 
ents  were  Mr.  E.  E.  McClure,  Mr.  Arthur  E.  Davis, 
and  Mr.  C.  W.  Burrage.  During  this  time  evening 
services  were  often  held  in  the  Porter  stieet  chaiiel, 
by  Mr.  Eliot  or  lay  leaders;  and  it  was  for  a  time 
hoped  that  the  movement  begun  there  might  ^row 
into  a  second  church.  But  in  the  fall  of  1S90,  on  ac- 
count of  the  removal  from  South  Portland  of  most  of 
the  Unitarian  families,!:  and  because  other  churches, 
witli  better  equipment  for  doing  mission  woik,  had 
now  been  established  in  the  vicinity,  the  school  was 
given  up.  ;ind  its  members  joined  the  parent  school. 

Tlie  more  cordial  rehitions  sustained    with    other 
churches   of  the    city    were  illustrated  in   1881  by  an 


:f  Among'  these  rennovals  was  Ihatof  the  Burrsige  fumily,  an 
irrcpiirablc  loss  to  tlio  South  Portland  wwrk  and  to  the  church. 
'J'Ik'.n'  rcniovi'il  to  Spokaiic,  WasliiiifiToii,  in  the  spring-  of  ]f-S7, 
and  altorward  to  Canon  I'ity,  Colorado,  I'l'oin  motives  of  hfaltli. 
Two  of  ilicir  sons,  Eilwaiil  Hills,  and  Charles  Fi'anc's,  both  de- 
voted tnenil)ers  of  tlieChni'cli.  have  since  died,  and  their  graves 
are  ill  Uiverview  Cemetery  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Riirrage  came  from 
Leominster,  Mass.  Their  pastor  there  had  been  Rev.  Hnfiis  F. 
Sttibbins.  D.  b.  Tliey  brought  Im  the  I'nrtland  church  all  the 
zeal,  con.seienee  and  self-sacritice.  for  which  that  gooil  minister 
was  celebrated.  At  several  iniportaiu  crises  of  the  church's  lii.s- 
t)r.v,  thectuirch  may  l)e  said  almost  to  have  owed  itssnivival, 
ami  certainly  always  owed  a  great  part  ot  its  character  and  use- 
fulness to  these  devoted  friends. 


so  THE  IIISTOllY  OK  TllE 

exchange  of  pulpits  with  i\\i'  ('oiigiegatioiiul  church, 
at  the  request  of  tlie  i)aKtor  of  tlie  latter.  The  cour- 
tesy has  been  repeated  several  times  since';  and  nit-m- 
l)ers  are  now  dismissed  and  received  byjetter  l)otli 
with  that  church  and  with  several  others. 

In  1882  ill  health  compelled  Mr.  Eliot  for  the 
third  time  to  seek  relief  from  his  labors  for  an  indefi- 
nite period,  lie  went  away  in  September  of  that 
year,  and  returned  before  the  following  Easter,  his 
pla(!e  being  supplied  by  Rev.  Charles  Noyes,  now  of 
North  Andover,  Mass.,  still  warmly  remembered  by 
many  in  Portland. 

The  yeais  beginning  with  1885  may  w^ell  be  called 
the  period  of  organization  in  the  activities  of  the 
church,  as  tiie  seventeen  years  before  had  been  the 
era  of  building  up  and  knitting  together.  The  churcli 
had  now  gained  a  solid  growth;  and  it  had  made  a  rec- 
ognized place  for  itself  in  the  community,  and  had  be- 
come fully  conscious  of  its  own  strength  and  mission. 
This  is  not  saying  that  a  diversified  work  had  not  been 
undertaken  before;  but  that  it  was  not  thoroughly  or- 
ganized, and  that  the  burden  of  it  was  not  so  widely 
distributed  as  to  employ  the  largest  number  of  work- 
ers. 

On  June  29,  1886,  a  Post-office  Mission  was  or- 
ganized.*    The  Christian  Union  had,  as  early  as  1883, 


*  The  first  officers  ot  the  Post-oflBce  Mission  were  Mr.  A.  f. 
Sears.  Jr.,  President;  Mrs.  Caroline  Dunlap.  V.ee-President:  Mr. 
James  L  Dunlap,  Secretary;  Mr.  Samuel  Collyer.  Treasurer. 
The  most  of  its  real  worli  during-  the  past  five  yenrs  has  been 
done  by  Miss  Emily  F.  Davison  as  Corresponding  Secretary. 


FIRST  UNITARIAN  CHURCH.  31 


done  work  in  distributin.u:  Lilieral  relifiious  literature, 
Hiul  printing  sermons  for  distribution,  before  tlie  tiist 
Fost-offlce  Mission  in  the  counti y  liad  been  formed. 
Tlie  Mission  was  formed  during  a  visit  of  Rev.  diaries 
W.  Wendte,  tlien  Su[>erintendent  of  the  American  I'ni- 
tarian  Association  on  tlie  Pacitic  Coast,  in  vihose  Cin- 
cinnati church  the  original  Post  ( (lice  Mission  had 
been  formed.  Since  its  formation  the  Mission  has 
held  monthly  meetings,  and  has  distributed  through 
the  mails  and  otherwise,  thousands  of  tracts,  papers, 
and  books,  every  year;  and  has  done  a  great,  though 
quiet,  work  in  making  Liberal  Christianity  known 
to  many  seekers  for  the  light  throughout  the  North- 
west. 

On  October  17  of  the  same  year,  a  branch  of  the 
Unitarian  Church  Temperance  Society  was  formed, 
It  held  monthly  meetings  for  study  and  discussion, 
and  promoted  temperance  work  in  various  ways  until 
June,  1888,  but  since  that  time  has  held  no  meetings. 
Parallel  with  this  there  was  organized  a  "True  Help- 
ers"' society,  among  the  children  of  the  Sunday- 
school,  which  held  monthly  meetings  for  the  cultiva- 
tion of  temperance  princi|)!es.  This  has  also  ceased 
to  exist;  but  the  work  it  did  is  continued  through  tem- 
perance lessons  in  the  Sunday-school. 

The  Cliristian  Union,  which  liad  at  lirst  aimed  at 
scarcely  more  than  the  relief  of  the  poor,  continued  to 
hold  its  monthly  meetings,  and  to  do  its  efficient  work 
on  ever  broader  lines.  Ilscourses  of  Social  Science  lect- 
ures, given  dining  eight  years,  were  a  pul)lic   benefit. 


32  TIIK  in  STORY  OF  THK 

It  purcliased  M  libriuy  for  t lie  St:ile  Penitentiary  in 
1885,  iiiul  originated  tiie  law  establishing  one  at  the 
expense  of  the  State  in  1891.  It  v as  the  means  of 
causing  needed  refoims  to  be  made  at  the  County 
Faim.  It  oi)posed,  and  helped  to  prevent  the  estab- 
lishing of  a  State  Keform  Sc];ool,  on  what  seemed  to 
be  an  unwise  plan.  It  did  much  towaid  the  estab- 
lishing of  Free  Kindergartens  in  Portland,  and  tow- 
ard the  forming  of  the  lioys'  and  Girls'  Aid  Society  of 
Oregon.  In  short,  its  recoids  show  that  theie  has 
hardly  been  a  reform  or  philanthroi»ic  enterprise  of 
public  interest  undertaken  in  the  (dty  or  county  since 
its  organization,  which  has  not  been  discussed  in  its 
meetings,  and  diiectly  or  indirectly  received  its  sup- 
port; while  there  have  been  not  a  few  which  it  alone 
has  originated  and  carried  out.  Its  members  still 
make  their  monthly  visits  to  the  County  Jail,  and  at 
longer  intervals  to  other  institutions  of  charity  and 
correction,  always  leady  either  to  give  help,  or  to 
point  out  abuses  and  suggest  needed  reforms.  Its 
transactions  amount  to  several  hundred  dollars  yearly, 
and  all  missionary  and  charitable  collections  taken  in 
the  church  pass  through  its  hands. 

The  work  of  the  young  people  was  another  of  the 
things  to  be  oiganized  during  this  period.  On  Janu- 
ary 7,  1882,  the  young  people  of  the  church  fojmed 
the  "Sans  Souci  Club,"*  with  the  original  purpose  of 


*Tlie  first  officers  of  the  Sans  Souci  Club  were  Mr.  George  G. 
Gaminans.  President;  Miss  Aphia  L.  Dimiclc,  Vice-President :  Mr. 
C.  E.  Staatland,  Secretary;  Mr.  L.  F.  Henderson,  Treasurer. 


FIRST  UNITAIUAX  CHURCH.  83 

doing  religious  and  literary  as  well  as  social  woric. 
For  various  reasons  the  original  intention  was  not 
carried  out;  but  tlie  club  existed  for  three  j'ears,  hold- 
ing fortnightly  meetings  for  literary  and  musical  im- 
j)rovement  and  social  pleasure.  The  club  at  one  time 
had  over  eighty  members,  and  drew  in  many  from 
outside  the  church;  and,  beside  its  regular  meetings, 
held  entertainments  and  gave  aid  to  various  branches 
of  the  church  woik.  It  was  noted  for  its  large  num- 
ber of  active  workers.  Its  meetings  ceased  in  1885. 
In  the  fall  of  1887  the  young  people  again  organ- 
ized, forming  what  was  at  first  called  simply  '-the 
Fraternity,'"*  but  later  "the  William  G.  Eliot  Frater- 
nity,"' in  honor  of  the  pastor's  father,  the  pastor  of 
the  Unitarian  church  in  St.  Louis.  Its  objects  are  "to 
cultivate  an  earnest  Christian  endeavor  among  its  mem 
bers,  to  provide  for  tlieir  entertainment  and  improve- 
ment by  meetings  religious,  literary  and  social,  and  to 
promote  charitable  work."  From  the  first  it  has  lield 
weekly  religious  meetings  on  Sunday  evenings,  and 
for  a  time  it  also  had  charge  of  the  Sunday  evening 
meetings  in  the  church  once  each  month.  It  also  holds 
monthly  socials;  and,  since  the  fall  of  1890,  it  has 
lield  Tuesday  evening  classes  for  the  study  of  subjects 
in  literature,  history  or  science,  which  have  been 
largely  attended.  It  has  done  much  at  dilferent 
times  for  charitable  objects,  and  altogether  has  been 

*The  flr.'St  officers  of  i1k'  l''r;itoinity  woro  ^'r.  Oscnr  K.  ITciTilz 
President:  Miss  lorif  Duiilnp.  Vic'c-rrf^idont:  Mi.-s  Eiiiiheiinii 
Ainslie.  Pecretmy;  Miss  IJllic  Wtcd.  Tri-iisincr.  Mr.  Siiinuel 
Collyer,  now  of  Taconm,  took  iin  iictivo  part  in  the  early  history 
of  the  Fraternity. 


34  THE  HISTORY  OF  THE 

one  of  the  most  efficient  and  helpful  of  tlie  various  or- 
ganizations connected  with  the  church. 

Tlie  Sunday-school  during  all  this  time,  under 
Mr.  John  L.  Barnard,  its  Superintendent  for  seven- 
teen j'ears  until  his  removal  from  the  city  in  1887, 
enjoyed  continual  prosperity.  Its  memljership  ranged, 
during  most  of  this  period,  from  200  to  lioO. 

The  Ladies'  Sewing  Society  during  this  time  giew 
with  the  rest  of  the  church,  and  constantly  extended  the 
reach  of  its  Mork.  It  has  at  different  times  given  its 
meetings  up  to  the  studyof  religious  or  literary  topics, 
instead  of  to  the  sewing  that  occupied  the  meetings 
of  its  earlier  years.  In  September,  1892,  it  dropped 
its  old  name  and  was  re-christened  the  Women's  Aux- 
iliary, thus  becoming  a  branch  of  the  Women's  Uni- 
tarian Conference  of  the  Pacific  Coast.  The  list  of 
its  benefactions  during  its  twenty-seven  years' history 
would  be  a  long  one;  but,  besides  those  already  re- 
ferred to,  there  may  be  mentioned  its  continuous  re- 
sponsibility for  the  music  of  the  church,  its  purchase 
of  a  piano  for  the  Sunday-school,  and  its  large  gifts 
toward  a  pipe  organ  for  the  church,  which  was  bought 
in  1876  at  a  cost  of  about  $2, -100. 00,  one  half  of  which 
was  given  by  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Simon  G.  Reed. 

The  church  has  been  called  from  time  to  time  to 
mourn  the  loss  of  various  ones  out  of  the  number  who 
helped  to  found  it  or  to  carry  on  its  work.  Among  so 
many  worthies,  particular  mention  might  seem  invid- 
ious, did  not  a  faithful  history  require  mention  of 
those  whose  names  have  been  brought  into  permanent 


FIRST  UXITARIAX  CHURCH.  35 

association  with  the  Society  througli  generous  gifts  to 

it. 

Mrs.  Mary  E.  Frazar,  who,  more  truly  than  any 
other  one  person,  may  be  called  the  founder  of  the 
church,  died  April  21,  TS84,  aged  67  years,  4  months. 
In  memory  of  her,  her  daughter,  Mrs.  Rosa  F.  Burrell, 
gave  the  Society  in  April  1886  the  sum  of  $1,000.00,  to 
l)e  called  the  '"Frazar  Fund,"  the  income  to  be  used  in 
the  dissemination  of  Unitarian  literature.  This  income 
has  been  principally  expended  through  the  Post-office 
Mission  in  establishing  and  maintaining  the  ''Frazar 
Loan  Library"  of  Liberal  religious  literature. 

Thomas  Frazar,  her  husband,  died  June 23,  1890, 
aged  77  years,  5  months.  He  was  always  one  of  the 
most  earnest  supporters  of  the  work  of  the  church, 
and  was  a  member  of  the  board  of  trustees  of  the 
Society  for  most  of  the  time  during  fifteen  years. 
In  memory  of  these  two  founders  of  the  church,  a 
bronze  tablet  was  placed  on  the  church  walls  in  1891.* 

*The  tablet  bears  the  following  inscription : 

In  memory  of 

Thomas  Frazar 

1813-1890 

and  his  beloved  wife 

Mary  Ei.lks  Frazar 

IS 17  1884. 

Natives  of  New  Enjrlrtnd.    Pioneers  of  Oregon  of  l!-5l. 

Devoted  patriots. 

Members  of  the  sacred  band  to  whose  prayers  and  sacrifices 

the  founding  of  this 

Church  of  Ol'r  Father 

is  due. 

Tills  tablet  is  crocted  by  their  daughters  and  grandoliildren, 

1891. 


S6  THE  niSTOIlY  OF  'JHE 


Mrs.  Anna  Cooke,  another  of  the  original  mem- 
bers of  the  Cliurcli,  died  January  4,  188(i,  at  tlie  ad- 
vanced age  of  84  years.  It  whs  in  her  house  that  the 
First  Unitarian  Society  was  organized.  Tier  memory 
is  visibly  preserved,  and  her  love  for  the  Church  repre- 
sented, by  a  beautiful  baptismal  font  in  the  church, 
given  in  1881  by  lier  son,  Mr.  James  W.  Cook.* 

Charles  Hodge,  one  of  the  original  members  of 
the  First  Fnitaiian  Society,  a  member  of  theboaidof 
trustees  and  its  clerk  for  over  fourteen  years,  died 
Mai  eh  30,  1883,  beloved  and  mourned  by  the  whole 
city.  He  had  been  one  of  the  church's  stanchest 
friends  and  most  active  workers  since  its  foundation; 
and  few  men,  diu'ing  the  history  of  the  church,  have 
done  more  than  he,  by  character  and  word,  to  give  it 
standing  and  influence  in  the  community.  His  pic- 
ture hangs  on  the  wall  of  the  chapel  to  recall  his 
nuiny  years  of  service  as  a  teacher  in  the  Sunday- 
school.  In  memory  of  him  and  his  wife,  their  daugh- 
ter, Mrs.  Hannah  Hodge  Robertson,  gave  in  October, 
1890,  the  sum  of  $1,000.00,  to  be  finally  used  for  a  fit- 
ting memorial  at  some  time  to  be  erected  in  the 
church. 

Mrs.  Lurena  A.  Spaulding,  another  early  member 
of  the  Church,  died  Xovember  2, 1887.  aged  72  years.! 


*  The  font  was  first  used  on  Sunday,  June  5.  18?1.  when  ten 
children  were  bapti/ed  frum  it. 

+  Mrs.  Spaulding-,  with  her  family  of  tliree  sons  and  two 
rtaugrhters,  came  from  Chelmsford,  Massachusetts  They 
have  been  among-  the  most  earnest  and  influential  members  of 
the  Church  and  Society. 


FIRST  UXITARIAX  CHURCH.  37 

In  her  memory  her  dangliter.  Mrs.  Lefie  W.  Sittoii, 
and  her  husband,  Mr.  Cliarles  E.  Siiton,  gave  the  So- 
ciety m  January,  1888,  tlie  sum  of  §oCO.GO,  of  whicli 
the  income  is  to  be  used  as  a  general  cliaritable  fund, 
but  especially  for  the  relief  of  needy  working  women. 

Edward  Hills  Burrage,  son  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Charles  W.  Burrage,  original  members  of  the  Church 
and  Society,  died  January  7,  1887,  aged  30  years,  7 
months.  He  was  for  years  the  faithful  librarian  of 
the  Sunday-school,  and  in  his  memory  his  parents 
gave  in  January,  1887,  the  carpet,  chairs  and  curtains 
for  the  chapel,  and  in  January,  1891,  a  fund  of  $800.00, 
the  income  to  be  expended  on  the  library  witli  which 
lie  had  been  so  long  connected. 

Miss  Ella  M.  Smith,  for  many  years  an  attendant 
of  the  church,  died  October  1,  1889,  aged  51  years.  In 
her  last  will  she  left  the  sum  of  $5,000.00  to  the  Soci- 
ety, for  use  in  its  general  wori<.t 

Mrs.  Betty  Farmer,  one  of  the  original  members 
of  the  Church,  died  September  29, 1891,  aged  52  years. 
In  her  last  will  she  left  for  the  use  of  the  Society  sums 
uhich  will  probably  amount  in  all  to  $4,000.00  or 
moie.t 


f  Miss  Smith  was  a  woman  of  retiring'  nature,  but  wiili  a 
character  of  niarkert  earnestiiess.  consoie"cr,  and  New  EnKliin<l 
simplicity.  Slie  was  warmly  ijttat'hcd  to  the  church  and  its  peo- 
p'e.  At  iier  death  nearly  all  her  projierty,  about  ■'t2JO.OlO.00,  was 
left  for  charitiible  purposes. 

*  Mrs.  Farmer's  lile  was  one  of  liard  work,  throuph  which, 
In  her  later  years,  she  liail  iic(iuM'('(l  a  nutdest  eomiietence.  She 
was  widely  known  and  esteeiiicii  in  t  liecoiiniiunity,  and  had  at- 
tached lierself  to  the  chnreh  throujihout  her  life  bj'  her  cheei- 
f  ul  Christian  si)irit  and  seryice. 


86007 


38  THE  HISTORY  OF  THE 

All  these  sums  have,  by  resolution  of  the  trustees 
of  the  Society,  been  made  permanent  and  irreducible 
funds,  of  which  the  income  only  may  be  used. 

The  history  of  the  church  during  the  past  few 
years  is  so  familiar  as  hardly  to  need  relating.  In 
September,  1889,  the  church  received  a  fresh  impulse 
from  the  visit  of  the  Pacific  Unitarian  Conference. 
A  five  days'  session  was  held;  and  among  the  minis- 
ters from  a  distance  were  llev.  Thomas  Yan  Ness, 
the  newly  appointed  Superintendent  of  the  American 
Unitarian  Association  on  the  Pacific  Coast,  Rev.  C. 
W.  Wendte  of  Oakland,  Cal.,  Rev.  N.  A.  Haskell  of 
San  Jose,  Cal.,  and  Rev.  John  Fretwell  of  England. 
Especial  interest  was  added  to  the  meetings  of  the 
Conference  by  the  presence  and  participation  of  sev- 
eral delegates  returning  from  the  National  Confer- 
erce  of  Charities  and  Correction,  which  had  just  been 
held  in  San  Francisco.  Among  these  were  Mr.  Alex- 
ander Johnson  of  Indianopolis,  lud..  Gen.  and  Mrs. 
F.  B.  Marshall  and  Mrs.  Isabel  C.  Barrows  of  Boston, 
Mass.  The  venerable  Thomas  Frazar,  who  died  only 
a  few  months  later,  delighted  the  conference  by  giv- 
ing his  personal  reminiscences  of  Channing. 

At  the  annual  meeting  of  the  Society  in  1890,  Dr. 
Eliot  felt  obliged,  on  account  of  the  increasing  work 
of  the  parish,  and  iiis  own  uncertain  health,  to  ask 
for  an  assistant.  The  request  was  at  once  granted; 
and  as  a  result  of  the  negotiations  that  followed,  Mr^ 
Earl  Morse  Wilbur  of  Burlington,  Vermont,  who  had 
just  graduated   from   the  Harvard  Divinity   School, 


FIRST  UNITARIAN  CHURCH.  39 

came,  in  the  autumn  of  that  year,  as  associate  pastor. 
On  tlie  afternoon  of  Saturday,  January  24,  1891, 
the  church  suffered  its  first  and  almost  only  material 
misfortune,  in  the  partial  destruction  of  its  building 
by  lire.  The  tower  was  destroyed,  and  the  interior 
was  stained  with  smoke  and  drenched  with  water. 
Tae  caute  of  the  (ire  has  never  been  satisfactorily 
learned,  but  it  is  supposed  to  have  been  accidental. 
T.ie  loss  was  about  $o,0()().00,  and  was  fully  covered 
l)y  insurance.  Kei)airs  were  at  once  made,  the  tower 
baing  rebuilt  after  new  plans;  and  the  whole  edifice  was 
thoroughly  renovated  and  occupied  again  at  Easter. 
The  fire  caused  the  kindly  disposition  of  other  churches 
immediately  to  be  manifested.  Several  of  tLe  minis- 
ters of  the  city  expressed  their  warm  sympathy;  and 
the  use  of  the  Baptist,  Congregational  and  First  Pres- 
byterian churches  were  offered  for  services.  The 
Marquam  Grand  Opera  House  and  the  Temple  Beth- 
Israel  was  also  offered;  and  the  latter  was  accepted, 
and  tiie  Temple  occui)ied  for  two  Sundays.  As  soon 
as  the  chapel  could  be  lenovated,  worship  was  resumed 
in  that,  thechurcirs  original  place  of  worship;  and  it 
was  occupied  until  the  restoration  of  the  church. 

In  October,  1891,  under  the  auspices  of  the 
church,  a  Scandinavian  Unitarian  church  was  formed, 
and  flourished  for  eight  months,  when  it  disbanded, 
and  many  of  its  members  joined  the  First  Unitiirian 
Church. 

A  generous  friend  having  supplied    the   funds  nec- 
essary to  the  undertaking,  a  free  public  reading  room 


40  TflK  IirSTORV  OF  'J  HE 


was  opened  in  the  clinrcli  parlor  in  November,  1891, 
This  was  done  as  one  beginning  of  a  policy  which 
linds  more  and  more  favor,  and  which  it  is  ho]  ed  to 
carry  out  moie  fully  in  future,  to  keep  the  cliuix'h 
building  open  as  much  of  the  time  as  possible,  that  it 
may  serve  the  community  in  the  broadeft  and  com- 
pletest  way.  The  reading  room  was  at  first  opened 
otdy  evenings;  but  after  a  very  successful  year  of  ex- 
periment, it  was  ojiened  afternoons  as  well,  including 
Sundays.  Thus  the  church  is  becoming  more  and 
more  a  "house  of  life,''  as  well  as  a  place  of  worship. 

No  account  of  the  work  which  the  church  has  ac- 
complished during  its  first  twenty-five  years  would  be 
Complete  which  did  not  make  particular  mention  of 
that  whicli  has  been  its  continual  example  and  inspi- 
ration: the  lunvearied  faitlifulness  in  season  and  out 
of  season,  the  patient  faith,  and  the  quiet  persistence, 
of  the  pastor  and  his  devoted  wife.  If  those  qualities 
have  also  marked  the  career  of  the  whole  church,  it  is 
because  they  have  been  the  reflection  of  what  has 
never  ceased  to  shine  forth  from  its  leaders. 

This  may  be  said  to  complete  the  record  of  tlie 
church's  life  during  its  first  quarter  century.  It  was 
sent  on  a  mission  all  its  own.  It  has  risen  through 
self-sacrifice  and  patient  labor,  and  in  the  face  of  op- 
position and  misunderstanding,  until  it  now  occupies 
as  it  has  for  years,  a  position  of  influence  and  hearty 
respect  in  the  community  in  which  it  is  set.  Besides 
the  mariy-sided  work  which  has  been  mentioned  in  the 
preceding  pages,  its  most  telling   influence  has  per- 


FIRST  uxiTAKixVX  cnrKCii.  41 

haps  been  in  the  softening  of  religions  prejudice,  and  in 
the  gradual  leavening  of  its  neighbors,  and  the  whole 
community,  with  at  least  the  germs  of  Liberal  re- 
ligious tliought.  *The  time  once  was  when  the  church 
stood  solitary,  and  was  regarded  with  suspicion  or 
misgiving;  when  it  was  considered  hardly  admissi- 
ble for  members  of  other  cliurches  to  unite  witli  Uni- 
tarians even  in  charitable  work;  and  -when  the  highest 
praise  that  could  be  given  to  the  church's  saints  was 
that  they  were  ''too  good  to  be  Unitarians."'  But 
that  time  is  long  past.  The  old-time  hostility  has 
largely  given  way  to  good-will;  and  it  is  recognized  by 
nearly  all,  that  whatever  may  be  thought  of  the  be- 
liefs the  church  represents,  its  earnest  purpose  is  to 
build  up  the  kingdom  of  heaven  according  to  tlie  best 
of  its  knowledge  and  jiower.  It  is  now  understood, 
by  tliose  who  understand  anytl)ing  at  all  about  it, 
tliat  it  has  come  not  to  destroy,  but  to  fulfil;  not  so 
much  to  oppose  the  cliurches  from  which  it  differs,  as 
to  perform  a  work  which  they  do  not  and  can  not  per- 
form, to  otfer  its  own  form  of  religious  faith  to  those 
who  eitlier  luive  never  been  able  to  accei)t  that  of 
other  cluuxlies,  or  who  do  not  feel  at  rest  in  them. 
And,  tinally,  it  is  now  cordially  recognized  that,  in- 
stead of  being,  as  some  thought  during  its  early  years, 
"an  encourager  of  loose  morals,"  it  is  an  earnest 
worker  for  every  cause  tliat  can  nuike  men  better, 
physically,  mentally  and  morally,  no  less  than  spirit- 
ually. 

*  A  little  idea  of  tho  cxtPiit  of  Ihe  church's  work  Hnd  influ- 
ence may  be  Kiiincd  from  the  fact  that  fiurijifr  the  fl«st  twenty- 
five  yenrs  of  the  pMstorate  the  pastor  officiated  at  .n74  baptisms, 
.5.')3  weddings,  and  590  funerals;  4'ti  persons  joined  theCliurcli 
during  this  time. 


Thomas  Lamb  Eliot,  D.  D. 


SKETCH  OF  THE  LIFE  OF    THOMAS  LAMB 
ELIOT,  D.  D. 


THOMAS  LAMB  ELIOT,  pastor  of  tlie  First 
Unitarian  CImrcli  of  Portland  for  tlie  tweiity-fi\e 
years  from  its  organization,  was  born  in  St.  Louis, 
Missouri.  October  13,  1841.  He  is  tlie  eldest  son  of  Eev. 
William  Greeideaf  Eliot.  1).  I).,  LL.  D..  and  Abigail 
Adams  Eliot,  and  comes  fiom  a  f.imily  in  the  varioi  s 
brandies  of  which  there  have  been  many  ministers. 
His  father  was  the  pastor  of  the  Chxuch  of  the  Mes- 
siah (Unitarian)  in  St.  Louis,  from  whidi  he  resigned 
in  1871,  after  a  pastorate  of  nearly  forty  years,  that  he 
migiit  devote  his  whole  time  to  the  duties  which  lie 
liad  already  long  i)erformed  as  Chancellor  of  Wash- 
ington University,  in  St.  Louis,  of  which  he  had  been 
one  of  the  founders.  He  was  not  only  one  of  the  lead- 
eis  in  the  Unitarian  denomination,  but  a  man  of  great 
intluence  in  the  development  of  the  city  of  St.  Louis, 
an  inspirer  of  its  educational  and  philanthropic  inter- 
ests no  less  than  pastor  of  one  of  its  oldest  and  larg(st 
churches. 


44  SKlCTCri    OF   THE    LIFE    OF 

Mr.  Eliot  received  liis  preparatory  aixl  collejiiate 
ediuralion  at  Wasliinifloii  University,  from  wiiieii  lie 
graduated  in  its  first  class  in  18G2.  and  from  wliicli  lie 
also  received  tlie  degree  of  Master  of  Arts  in  1865. 
His  studies  were  interrn]»te(l  midway  of  tlie  conrte  by 
failing  eyesight;  and  in  the  hope  of  receiving  benefit 
he  undertook,  in  18(50,  a  voyage  in  ;i  sailing  vessel 
around  Cape  Horn  to  China.  lie  experienced  no  im- 
provement from  the  trip,  liowever,  and  after  a  few 
weeks  in  California  returned  home  from  there,  to  con- 
tinue his  studies  with  eyesiglit  so  inipaiied  tliat  for 
montlis,  while  in  college  and  Divinity  School,  he  had 
to  have  his  books  read  to  him.  After  graduating 
from  college,  he  was  engaged  for  twoyeais  in  the  min- 
istry-at-large  in  St.  Louis,  in  charge  of  the  mission 
liouse  connected  with  his  father's  churcli,  doing  much 
work  in  its  large  Sunday-school,  and  among  the  poor. 
During  the  same  ])eriod  he  spent  a  i)art  of  his  time  as 
tutor  in  Latin  and  Greek  in  Washington  University. 
In  the  early  part  of  this  i)eriod.  also,  he  enlisted  in 
tiie  First  Missouri  Volunteers,  was  mustered  in,  and 
was  in  active  service  for  some  months,  though  never 
called  out  of  the  State. 

Even  before  entering  college  he  had  resolved  to 
enter  the  Christian  ministry,  and  though,  on  account 
of  his  weakened  eyesight,  lie  was  discouraged  from 
this  puri)ose  by  all  except  Dr.  Eliot,  his  father,  he  ad- 
liered  to  it,  and  after  graduating  from  college  studied 
more  or  less  under  his  father's  direction.  In  fur- 
ther pursuance  of  his  purpose  he  went,   in   tlie  fall  of 


Mrs.  Henrietta  R.  Eijot. 


REV,  TH0;MAS   LA:NrB  ELIOT.  45 

1864,  to  the  Harvard  Divinity  IScliool,  where  he  com- 
pleted the  course  the  next  year,  having  done  two  years' 
work  in  one.  Among  his  fellow-students  there  were 
Joseph  May,  now  of  Philadelphia;  S.  C.  Beach,  of 
Bangor,  Maine;  James  Vila  Blake,  of  Chicago;  W.  E. 
Copeland,  of  Salem,  Oregon;  II.  G.  Spaulding,  of  New- 
ton, Mass.;  and  Charles  C.  Salter,  since  deceased. 
Having  left  the  Divinity  School  in  the  summer  of  1865, 
he  supplied  the  pulpit  of  Eev.  John  H.  Heywood,  in 
Louisville,  Ky.,  for  several  weeks,  and  then  returned 
to  St.  Louis,  where  he  was  elected  associate  pastor  of 
his  father's  church.  He  was  ordained  there  Novem- 
ber 19,  1865.  Eev.  C.  A.  Staples,  of  Milwaukee,  Wis., 
preached  the  sermon  from  the  text,  ''Who  is  sufficient 
for  these  things?''  Rev.  Dr.  Eliot  offered  the  ordain- 
ing prayer  and  gave  the  charge;  and  Rev.  A.  D.  Mayo 
ot  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  gave  the  right  hand  of  fellowship. 
He  was  married  November  28, 1865,  to  Henrietta 
Robins  Mack,  who  has  ever  since  shared  with  him  the 
labors  and  honors  of  his  work,  and  the  love  of  the 
people  to  whom  he  hns  ministered.  Soon  after  his 
marriage  he  spent  several  weeks  in  New^  Orleans, 
where  he  supplied  the  pulpit  of  the  Unitarian  church, 
as  also  again  for  two  months  in  the  spring  of  1867. 
He  retained  his  connection  as  associate  pastor  of  the 
St.  Louis  church,  however,  until  November,  1867, 
.when  he  resigned  to  accept  a  call  to  the  church  then 
just  organized  in  Portland,  Oregon,  witli  which  he  has 
ever  since  been  connected.  At  about  the  same  time 
•he  had  received  a  formal  call  from  the  New  Orleans 


46  SKETCH   OF   THE   LiFE   OF 

church,  and  the  very  mail  wliich  brought  liim  the  call 
to  the  church  in  Portland,  Oregon,  also  brought  him 
a  letter  (practically  equivalent  to  a  call)  inviting  hinn 
to  preach  for  six  months  in  Portland,  Maine,  in  the 
jiulpit  left  vacant  by  the  coming  of  Kev.  Horatio  Steb- 
bius  to  San  Prancisso.  It  was  not  difficult  for  liim  to 
make  the  choice.  Ever  since  his  visit  to  the  Pacific 
Coast,  he  had  hoped  that  Portland,  Oregon,  might  be 
tlie  field  of  his  life  work.  Starr  King  haa  said  to  him 
then,  '-The  Pacific  Coast  claims  every  man  who  luis 
ever  seen  it,"  and  had  pointed  to  Oregon  and  Wash- 
ington Territory  as  the  "coming  country"  of  North- 
west America.  The  impression  which  he  then 
received  of  the  great  opportunities  for  work  which  the 
Pacific  Coast  offered,  he  had  never  lost,  and  this  de- 
termined him  to  accept  the  call  to  the  western  Port- 
land. Theie  would  seem  to  have  been  almost  a  spec- 
iat  providence  in  the  events  which  tlnally  led,  though 
through  devious  ways,  to  the  coming  together  of  the 
]ievvly  formed  church  and  its  pastor,  as  there  has  surely 
been  a  continuous  providence  in  the  twenty-five  years 
of  uninterrupted  harmony  which  has  m.irked  their  re- 
lations with  each  other. 

Mr.  Eliot,  with  his  wife  and  infant  son,  left  St. 
Louis  in  November,  1867,  and  came  to  Portland  by 
way  of  New  York  and  Panama.  They  arrived  at  their 
destination  early  on  Tuesday  morning,  December  24. 
after  a  journey  of  forty  days  and  forty  nights,  having 
rested  for  a  few  days  with  Kev.  Mr.  Stebbins  in  San 
Francisco.     Mr.  Eliot  was  at  that  time  quite   youth- 


REV.  THOMAS    LAMB   ELIOT.  47 

ful  ill  appearance,  and  was  known  for  some  years  as 
"the  boy  preacher.''  But  in  the  severe  labor  and  bit- 
ter opposition  tliat  he  and  liis  church  liad  to  encounter 
during  tlie  next  few  years,  lie  showed  tluit  he  possessed 
the  full  powers  of  a  man. 

His  life,  since  the  dciy  ol  liis  jniival,  is  viiltdi  on 
the  history  of  the  Poi  tland  church,  which  has  con- 
stantly prospered  and  grown  under  his  ministry.  To 
his  own  character  and  influence  is  due  very  much  of 
tlie  influence  and  standing  that  his  church  has  gained 
in  tiie  community.  His  work  has  never  been  narrowly 
confined  to  his  particular  parish  or  to  liis  denomina- 
tion, lie  has  done  more  or  less  missionary  preaching 
at  various  places  in  the  Pacific  Northwest,  in  which 
his  church'was  for  the  most  of  the  time  during  twenty 
years  the  solitary  pioneer  of  Liberal  Christianity. 

Besides  strictly  religious  interests,  he  inherited 
from  his  father,  and  has  bequeatlieo  to  his  cliurch.  an 
earnest  devotion  to  philanthropic  and  educational 
work  of  every  kind.  He  has  been  the  inspirer  of  sev- 
eral of  Portland's  most  prominent  institutions  of  phi- 
lanthropy, and  an  earnest  worker  in  behalf  of  almost 
all  of  them.  His  connection  with  the  Children"s 
Home,  the  Boys'  and  Girls'  Aid  Society  of  Oregon, 
and  the  Oregon  Humane  Society  of  which  lie  has  been 
President  for  ten  years,  deserves  es])ecial  mention. 
He  rendered  important  service  in  securing  for  Oregon 
legislation  establishing  a  State  Board  of  Charities  ai  d 
Corrections,  the  first  of  its  kind  on  the  Pacific  Coast. 
He  seemed  for  many  years  almost  the  only  person   in 


48  SKETCH    OF    THE    LIFE    OF 

OrejToii  enough  interested  in  tlie  reform  of  its  disgrace- 
ful jails  to  do  any  active  work  for  them.  lie  lias  al- 
ways been  an  earnest  supporter  of  the  temperance 
movement,  and  of  Woman's  8uffrage.  After  the  great 
fire  in  Portland,  on  August  2,  1873,  he  was  appointed 
one  of  the  committee  of  five  to  distribute  the  citizens" 
fund  of  relief,  and  served  in  that  capacity  for  several 
months.  Being  put  forward  by  lioth  [)olitical  parties, 
he  lield  tlieofHce  of  Superintendent  of  Schools  in  Mult- 
nomah County  for  two  terms,  from  1872  to  1875,  and 
did  much  to  bring  order  out  of  chaos  in  the  public 
school  system.  For  one  who  has  never  enjoyed  robust 
health,  the  amount  of  work  he  has  performed  in  his 
church,  and  outside  of  it,  is  remarkable.  Ill  health  has 
thrice  compelled  him  to  leave  his  parish,  once  for  more 
than  a  year,  but  the  resignations  which  lie  tendered 
were   not  accepted. 

Dr.  Eliot  is  an  easy  and  polished  s]ieaker.  He 
has  little  liking  for  religious  controversy,  but  rather 
has  a  strong  feeling  of  the  essential  unity  of  the 
Church  Universal.  He  has  been  accustomed  in  his 
preaching  to  dwell  most  upon  the  positive  virtues  of 
Christian  character,  and  has  striven  to  develop  the 
deepest  religious  life  in  his  hearers.  Churches  and 
ministers  who  are  farthest  removed  from  his  theology, 
respect  and  love  him  as  a  man.  He  has  several  times 
been  invited  to  preach  baccalaureate  or  other  sermons 
in  colleges  under  the  control  of  Evangelical  churches, 
and  has  been  frequently  offered  exchanges  by  minis- 
ters of  other  denominations. 


REV.  THOMAS   LAMB   ELIOT.  49 

Personally,  he  is  scholarly  in  his  tastes,  and  of  a 
poetic  temperament.  He  is  uniformly  courteous  and 
kind  to  both  friends  and  strangers,  and  though  of  a 
somewhat  modest  and  retiring  disposition,  he  never 
hesitates  to  assert  his  convictions  when  there  is  occa- 
sion to  do  so  in  any  cause  of  humanity,  good  murals, 
or  pure  government.  During  his  long  residence  in 
Portland  he  has  won  the  love  of  all  peoi)le.  and  to  no 
minister  in  the  city  are  the  poor,  the  outcast  or  the 
unchurched  so  likely  to  go  for  the  offices  of  a  minister, 
or  for  comfort  or  personal  counsel,  as  to  him.  He 
has  a  wide  reputation  and  influence  throughout  the 
Pacific  Xorthwest  among  men  or  all  ranks  and  class- 
es, the  weight  of  which  has  more  than  once  been  felt 
in  legislative  halls,  in  behalf  of  philanthropy  and  good 
government. 

In  1889,  Harvard  University,  recognizing  Mr.  El- 
iofs  long  and  valuable  work  in  the  Xorthwest,  hon- 
ored him  with  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity,  which 
was  conferred  (an  unusual  distinction)  in  his  absence. 

Dr.  Eliot's  family  life  hasbeen  singularly  blessed. 
Of  eiglit  children,  seven  are  living.  The  eldest  is  Eev. 
William  G.  Eliot,  Jr.,  pastor  of  tin;  Unitaiian  Churcli 
in  Seattle,  Washington. 

Having  completed  the  honoralile  term  of  twenty- 
five  years  as  pastor  of  one  chnrcli.  Dr.  Eliot  resigned 
his  pastorate  in  January,  1898,  desiring,  on  account  of 
uncertain  health,  to  be  free  from  theheavy  obligations 
it  imposed.*     He  has  been   elected   Pastor  Emeritus, 

*  For  tlie  rf'solutions  adopted   upon  Dr.   Eiioi's  rosignatioii, 
see  Appendix  F. 


50  SKETCH    OF   THK   T.IFK   OF 

however,  and  purposes  still  to  remain  with  the  church, 
devoting  to  it  as  much  of  his  time  and  strength  as 
may  seem  desirable,  while  he  will  also  feel  more  free 
to  engage  in  philanthropic  work,  of  which  so  much 
still  remains  to  be  done,  and  in  which  he  feels  so  deep 
an  interes.t. 


♦-3*i^*^**f-* 


THE  TWP^NTY-FIFTII  ANNIVERSARY  OF  THE 

FIRST  UNITARIAN   CHURCH  OF 

PORTLA^^^D,  OREGON. 

DECE3IBER    29,     1892. 


The  last  days  of  1892  were  memorable  ones  for 
the  Unitarian  Church  of  Portland,  for  they  marked 
the  completion  of  its  first  quarter  century,  and  also 
marked  for  its  pastor,  Dr.  Eliot,  anti  for  his  wife,  who 
has  done  hardly  less  than  he  in  the  building  up  and 
sustaining  of  the  church,  the  rounding  out  of  an  equal 
term,  a  pastorate  with  few  parallels  on  the  Pacific 
Coast,  either  for  its  length  or  for  its  unbroken  pleas- 
antness and  usefulness. 

Invitations  had  i)reviously  been  sent  far  and  near 
to  the  many  friends  of  the  church  and  its  pastor;  too 
many  of  Avhom,  however,  were  prevented  from  com- 
ing, either  by  distance  or  the  by  snow  blockades  of  the 
week  before.  The  formal  exercises  of  the  anniversary 
were  held  in  the  church  at  halfpast  seven  o'clock  on 
the  evening  of  December  29,  the  exact  anniversary 
of  the  dedication  of  the  little  chapel,   wliich    was   the 


EXERCISES    OF    THE 


cluux'li's  first  place  of  \vors1ni).  and  wliicli  is  still  usetl 
as  its  Suiiday-scliool  room.  Besides  the  Christmas 
decorations,  which  were  iiiuisxially  elaborate  and  Leavi- 
tiful,  special  decorations  for  the  occasion  had  been 
provided.  The  Jewish  Congregation  Eeth-Israel, 
through  their  rabbi,  sent  with  their  kind  wishes  a 
beautiful  palm  to  add  to  the  tloral  decorations.  The 
church  was  tilled  with  members  of  the  parish  and 
many  friends  from  outside  it.  In  the  pulpit,  besides 
the  pastors,  sat  Rev.  William  G.  Eliot,  Jr.,  of  the 
Unitarian  Church  in  Seattle;  Rev.  Dr.  C.  C.  Stratton, 
who  had  offered  the  invocation  at  the  dedication 
tvveuty-flvo  years  before,  when  pastor  of  the  Meth- 
odist Church;  Rev.  T.  E.  Clapp,  of  the  Congregational 
Church;  Rev,  Dr.  Arthur  J.  Brown,  of  the  Presbyte- 
rian Church;  Rev.  Dr.  Jacob  Bloch,  of  the  Jewish  Con- 
gregation; Rev.  John  Gantenbein,  of  the  Lutheran 
Church;  and  Rev.  Tilgham  Brown,  of  the  African 
Methodist  Church.  Several  other  ministers  of  the 
city  sent  notes  regretting  their  inability  to  be  present. 
The  services  of  the  evening  were  opened  by  an  in- 
vocation, by  Rev.  William  G.  Eliot,  Jr.  After  an  ap- 
propriate anthem  by  the  choir,  Rev.  Dr.  Bloch  read 
responsive  selections  from  the  Psalms.  Emerson's 
beautiful  hymn,  beginning,  ''We  love  the  venerable 
house,''  was  then  sung  by  the  congregation,  after 
which  Dr.  Eliot  spoke  as  fullows:* 


*The  following:  addresses  are  somewhat  abridp-ed  from  a 
stenographic  report  made  by  Mii-ses  A.  B.  and  F.  G.  Crocker  and 
Miss  Jennie  Van  Wyck,  to  whom  special  thanks  are  due. 


TWENTY-  FIFTH  AXN  1  VE^J^  ARY. 


DR.  ELIOT  S    ADDRESS. 

Dear  frievcls,  fellcic-citizcvs  ar,cl  honored  guests   of  tins 
i'rcnviy: 

It  is  mj'  pleasant  task  to  welconip  yon  to 
the  twenty-fifth  anniversary  of  tlie  dedication  of  tills 
cliurch — of  tlie  spiritual  cliiircli.  I  mean — for  it  wns 
the  building  that  stands  just  l)ack  of  us  that  was  the 
actual  house  of  worship  dedicated,  and  wliich  we  then 
for  the  first  time  entered  as  a  religious  body.  To  our 
own  household  of  faith  this  may  well  be  an  interest- 
ing occasion.  All  day  long,  as  I  have  thought  of  the 
duty  and  privilege  of  this  hour.  I  have  found  it  more 
and  more  impossible  for  me  to  frame  to  myself  words 
about  it.  There  are  times  when  we  feel  too  deeiily  to 
speak  adequately;  and  there  are  some  of  lis  who  have 
stood  shoulder  to  shoulder,  and  heart  to  heart,  throuoli 
these  twenty-five  years,  an  important  fraction  in  the 
time  that  our  own  country  has  lived,  aufl.  of  course, 
of  our  own  lives.  I  say  these  things  can  not  frame 
themselves  very  readil\  into  language;  but  there  is  an 
impressiveness  that  comes  from  the  simple  air  thi'.t 
we  breathe,  tlie  divine  atmosphere  that  runs  into  mr- 
sic,  likj  an  ^Eolian  harp,  over  all  the  days  and  years, 
and  seems  to  speak  in  sympathy  Avith  our  minds.  I 
think  we  all  fe*l,  we  older  members  of  this  cliun,-h 
and  those  of  you  who  sympathize  with  us.  as  if  silence 
said  more  for  us  than  any  speech.  One  of  our  gie;it- 
est  poets  has  spoken  of  times  in  which  what  we  open 


54  EXERC'Is?ES    OF    THE 


our  hearts  to  receive  is  far  more  iuiportaiit  than  wiiat 
we  try  to  give  out.   He  says: 

"'I'liiiik  y  )ii,  of  h11  till'  iiiitflity  sum 

Of  tliinsfs  forever  speakiiitr, 
Tliat  iiutliiiifr  of  itself  will  coiiie, 

lUit  wo  iiiiist  still  1)6  steiiinfrV" 

That  is  really  our  attitude  to-uiglit.  and  yet  some 
few  touches  we  must  make,  some  few  little  notes  as 
we  carry  our  thoughts  forward;  the  dignity  of  the  oc- 
casion demands  it.  We  feel  our  isolation  this  even- 
ing, as  a  church  and  as  a  community,  in  the  fact  tiiat 
of  our  invited  guests  from  the  South  and  elsewhere, 
the  honorable  representatives  of  our  own  cluiich  and 
brotherhood,  we  have  not  one  here  to-night.  You  v.ill 
listen  later  in  the  evening,  through  my  colleague's 
offices,  to  some  of  their  letters  and  kind   expressiors. 

Now  let  me  take  up  a  little  of  the  record  of  the 
past.  It  will  sound  somewhat  quaint  to  you  younger 
friends,  and,  I  am  sure,  will  be  interesting  to  the 
older  ones.  I  find  in  the  "Oregonian"  of  the  morning 
of  December  30,  1867,  a. kindly  notice  of  the  dedica- 
tion of  the  Unitarian  caapel,  of  whicli  these  are  the 
opening  words: 

"The  new  church  building  erected  by  the  Tnita- 
rian  Society  of  Portland  was  dedicated  Sunday  after- 
noon,* the  services  being  conducted  by  the  pastor.  Rev. 
T.  L.  Eliot,  assisted  by  Itev.  C.  C  Stratton,  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  Rev.  E.  C.  Anderson,  of 
the  Baptist  Church  and  Rev.  O.  G.  Ilarpending.  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church.  Mr.  Eliot,  the  new  pastor. 
a'Tived  but  a  few  days  since  from  St.  Louis,  Mo.      [It 


*  See  Appendix  D  for  the  order  of  tlie  services. 


TWKXIY- FIFTH  ANNIVERSARY.  55 


took  liim  forty  days  and  forty  iiirjlits  to  get  here.  He 
]eiiienil)ers  tliati]  He  is  quite  a  young  man  [Tliat 
was  very  evident.]  luit  [Tiiis  tlie  ■•Oiegonian"  seems  to 
lia\e  stated  on  failii]  lias  the  reputation  of  having 
a  good  deal  of  talent  and  tine  scholarly  attainments." 
And  so  it  goes  on  nntil,  towards  the  end.  it  says: 
•■The  l)uilding  dedicated  stands  on  the  corner  of  Sev- 
enth and  Yandiill  streets,  is  n  neat  and  comfortrihle 
structure,  of  capacity  to  seat  from  25(1  to  80U  people, 
und  cost  the  Society  about  .i<4,L'0U,  including  the  lot 
on  which  it  stands,  all  of  which  is  p;iid  for.  The  La- 
dies" Sewing  Society  of  the  Unitarian  Chnrch  raised 
between  $800  and  S^OO  of  the  amount.  Considering 
the  brief  time  the  Society  has  been  organ- 
ized, and  the  limited  number  of  members,  the  prog- 
ress made  is  somewhat  remaikable.  The  organi/a- 
tion  of  the  Society  was  effected  in  Aj)ril,  ]8()(5,  during 
the  visit  here  of.  Kev.  ^Ir.  Stebbins,  with  only  a  hand- 
ful of  mpml)ers.  The  membership  is  now  compara- 
tively numeions.  and  the  worshiping  congregation 
will  take  fair  rank  among  the  churches  of  much  older 
growth.""     So  said  our  kind  friend,  the  ••Oregonian."" 

A  special  correspondent  of  one  of  our  own  de- 
nominational i)ai)ers  thus  describes  in  part  the  ilay 
upon  which  we  dedicated,  and  a  portion  of  the  ser- 
vices: 

''Sunday,  the  20th  of  Decemljer.  the  ground  was 
quite  frozen,  and  the  air  clear  and  frosty,  such  a  day  ;.!s 
they  do  not  often  have  in  winteitime  to  break  the  nic- 
notony  of  the  Oregon  rain.  We  had  a  mornincr  ser 
vice,  just  Ho  try  it  on',  and  (b'dicated  the  church  in  the 
afternoon.  We  had  the  generous  aid  of  liiree  niinis- 
ters,  from  the  Methodist,  IJaptist  and  Presbyterian 
churches  in  the  city,  warm-heai  ted.  earnest  men,  who 
do  not  seem  at  all  inclined  to  dispute  (piestions of  ter- 


56  EXERCISES    OF    THE 

ritorial  right,  granting  ns  freely  the  name  of  Christian. 
In  the  sermon  of  tiie  lionr,  tlie  preacher  undertook 
t  >  s'low  the  origin  and  method  of  tlie  Christian 
Church;  and  the  dream  of  Jacob  and  his  wrestling  with 
tlie  angel,  were  made  symbols  of  the  wandering 
heart  and  troubled  mind  which  seek  and  obtain  re^-t 
throufjh  a  covenant  with  God,  that  covenant  being 
sustained  and  sanctilied  by  the  word,  'Where  two  or 
three  are  gathered  togetlier  in  my  name,  there  am  I 
in  the  midst  of  them.'  The  true  church,  therefore,  is 
a  covenant  witii  God  among  brethren  in  Clnist. 

The  prayer  of  dedication,  beginning,  'To  the  kind 
rather,  of  whom  we  are  told,  that  he  acceptetli  in  ev- 
ery nation  him  that  feareth  him  and  worketh  right- 
eousness,' ended  asking  that  tliis  church  might  be 
like  leaven  in  the  community,  and  grow  mightily  in 
the  spirit  of  Christ.  And  so  it  will,  if  any  assurance 
can  be  gathered  from  its  faith  in  the  past. 

The  words  of  the  Articles  of  Incorporat  ion*  are 
I  suppose,  commonplace,  which  say,  'its  duration  is 
to  be  perpetual';  and  that  may  be  only  a  cold  form 
of  law  which  bars  soi'ever  the  uses  of  ])roperty  for 
a.'iy  other  purposes  than  those  specitied  in  the 
Preamble,  viz:  'To  i)romote  the  objects  of  public  wor- 
ship, the  Ciiristian  faith,  the  ordinances  of  the  sospel, 
leligious  education,  general  benevolence,  charity  and 
Christian  toleration';  but  they  contain  to  us  an  inner 
jirophecyof  the  ])erpetual  kindling  of  the  divine  fiieto 
light  these  western  shores,  like  that  vestal  lamp  whose 
ilame  could  only  be  fed  by  the  hand  of  the  beautiful 
and  pure." 

Do  you  remember,  friends,  how  far  out  of  town 
the  corner  of  Yamhill  and  Seventh  streets  w^as  twen- 
ty-five years  agoV     How  far  out  of  town — I  say  it  ad- 

*See  Appendix  B. 


T WE N^TY- FIFTH  ANNIVERSARY. 


visedly — no  street  lamps,  no  street  improvements, 
hardly  a  trace  of  a  sidewalk;  so  that  in  our  first  years 
we  did  not  dare  to  think  of  such  a  thing  as  evening 
services;  and  our  receptions,  whenever  we  liad  them, 
we  were  obliged  to  come  to  with  lanterns,  picking  our 
way  much  as  the  people  at  the  ends  of  our  suburban 
lines  now  do.  Any  distant  suburb  is  really  about  as 
accessible  now  as,  m  our  imagination,  the  lot  upon 
tills  corner  seemed  to  tlie  people  of  our  city  then 

On  the  block  where  we  are,  our  next  door  neigl;- 
bor  was  Gov.  Gibbs.  His  house  was  the  only  one 
standing  on  this  block,  and  the  block  to  the  east  had 
nothing  upon  it.  The  one  to  the  north  had  nothing 
upon  it  except  the  debris  of  an  iron  foundry  which 
had  been  burned  and  had  moved  its  plant  later  down 
into  the  old  Penitentiary  building  on  the  White  House 
Koad.  The  block  north-east  of  us  had  simply  the  old 
Central  School  House  in  the  middle.  The  block  where 
the  Post-office  is  had  nothing  upon  it.  And  so  I  might 
go  on  in  every  direction;  out  this  way,  stumps;  out 
that  way,  stumps,  stumps;  no  streets;  and  the  hills 
seemed  almost  as  far  away  as  Forest  Grove  does  to  vs 
DOW.  I  think  there  was  no  church  farther  west  than 
the  Baptist,  and  the  center  of  the  city  was  down  some- 
where about  where  China-town  now  is. 

Dear,  familiar  faces  that  were  with  us  then,  but 
have  now  gone!  I  need  not  name  them  to  you  here, 
the  names  of  Thomas  Frazar,  Charles  Hodge  and 
others,  and  their  wives;  if  I  tried  to  remember  them, 
it  would  take  me  quite  a  number  of  moments,  and   I 


58  EXERCISES     OF     THE 

should  omit,  perhaps,  the  most  loved  in  trying  to  do 
so.  One  venerable  form,  always  heie  at  that  time. 
Avas  that  of  Mrs.  Anna  Cooke,  whom  so  many  of  yon 
knew;  Mrs.  Nancy  Goodnough,  Mrs.  I^anra  GilmaT), 
John  r.  Farmer,  and  so  it  goes  on — one  dear  face 
and  form  after  another  comes  up.  I  made  no  list  of 
them,  and  I  name  them  now  only  as  I  happen  to  think 
of  them.  There  is  a  church  in  heaven  as  well  ws  a 
church  on  earth,  and  to  me  one  of  the  dearest  thoughts 
of  this  hour  is  that  of  associations  with  the  members 
over  there;  and  in  God's  providence,  and  in  his  great 
mystery  of  the  power  of  the  luiman  heart,  greater 
than  time  and  space,  I  think  they  are  with  us  to-night. 
We  have  their  benediction,  and  they  have  ours,  and 
both  of  us  share  a  common  place  in  the  mansions 
of  God. 

Friends,  I  think  I  have  had  my  say;  again  I  wel- 
come you  to  all  the  thoughts  that  naturally  come  and 
go  with  this  hour.  I  have  spoken  of  trifles  because 
the  deeper  things  could  not  be  brought  into  this  in- 
formal speech;  all  the  sanctiiies  of  our  work, 
all  the  conviction,  even  in  our  loneliness,  that 
we  were  sharing  part  of  the  great  work  of  the  divine 
order  in  this  community.  Our  church's  candle  was 
set  on  a  candlestick,  and  all  the  workers  were  ministers, 
not  simply  one.  I  go  through  year  after  year  of  our 
experience,  our  sanguine  aspirations,  our  illusions  and 
disillusions,  our  failures  and  humble  success;  and 
within  our  dreams  always  a  deeper  dream  and  a  surer 
faith  and  hope  and  foundation. 


TWENTY- Fl FTII  A X N 1 V EHS A U Y. 


I  voice  tlip  testimony  iiere  of  all  of  you  who  have 
loved  this  church,  that  if  God  has  not  always  given  us 
just  what  we  asketl  and  worked  for.  if  the  temple  of 
oui"  hope  has  not  risen  before  our  eyes,  or  the  ideals 
we  have  sought  have  not  always  been  realized,  yet  to 
our  sincere  efforts  and  hopes  and  prayers  there  has 
always  come  some  deep  blessing  that  n.ow,  wlien  we 
look  back  at  it.  we  understand  has  litted  the  work 
into  a  greater  work  than  ours,  and  made  it  a  part  of 
the  diviner  temple  which  includes  the  whole  family  of 
man,  the  brotherhood  of  our  race.  I  am  suie  of  one 
thing,  and  let  me  give  this  testimony  at  the  risk  of 
seeming  personal  or  somewhat  to  savor  of  pride:  it  is 
that  the  purpose  of  this  church  through  all  these 
years,  has  been  a  sincere  one.  It  may  have  failed,  it 
no  doubt  has  failed,  in  many  directions,  to  do  wliat  it 
might  have  been  expected  to  do,  and  certainly  in  wluit 
we  expected  of  ourselves;  but  there  has  been  at  its 
heart's  core  the  sincerest  desire  to  serve  the  kingdom 
of  God  in  this  community;  and  I  mean  no  less  by  such 
a  pluase  as  the  "kingdom  of  God"  than  the  kingdom 
of  peace  and  order  and  self-sacrifice,  and  of  true  man- 
h(xj:l  a?id  brotheriiood  in  every  dei)artment  of  the  life 
of  this  city  and  this  State. 

What  we  do,  dear  friends,  in  this  world,  after  a'l 
does  not  amount  to  much;  one  of  the  things  we  have 
to  get  over  thinking,  is  that  we  are  here  chiefly  to  do 
something.  In  (Jod's  i)rovidence.  we  are  all  here  to 
be  something,  and  what  we  are  speaks  and  iloes  more 
than  the  things  we  call  actions.     The  "reatest    lives 


60  EXliRCIbES    OF    THE 

on  earth  liave  been  those  in  which  tlie  fewest  specific 
actions  could  be  spoken  of  or  described;  not  the  men 
who  led  armies  or  founded  states,  so  much  as  the 
thinkers  and  believers  who  brought  themseh-cs  to  the 
world,  and  left  themselves  like  a  transubstantiation, 
like  an  incarnate  Word  that  is  spoken  on  and  on,  and 
is  complete  and  fitted  for  the  builders  and  architects 
of  our  earth.  We  have  had  just  that  sincere  purpose, 
and  in  God's  providence  if  this  church  spiritual  is  to 
stand — and  I  believe  it  will  stand,  ten  times  twenty- 
five  years  longer — if  it  is  to  stand  here  with  all  the 
ministrations  of  a  true  service  of  God  in  tliis  city 
and  state,  it  will  be  from  what  the  chui'ch  is  rather 
than  from  what  it  does,  and  from  what  the  members 
and  friends  of  this  church  are  in  the  great  realm  of 
being,  and  not  simply  from  their  actions.  May  our 
church  indeed  be  a  syllable — I  say  it  reverently— in 
that  eternal  Word  of  God,  which  began  with  '-Let 
there  be  light,"  uttered  as  a  symbol  of  cieation.  and 
which  shall  never  end  so  long  as  God  is  God,  and  man 
is  God's  child. 

We  shall  now  have  the  great  honor  and  privilege 
of  listening  to  Dr.  Stratton,  President  of  Portland 
University  of  tliis  city,  whom  a  kind  Providence,  after 
twenty-four  years'  absence,  has  brought  back  to  this 
the  community  of  his  early  life.  We  can  never  for- 
get his  hospitable  aid  at  our  dedication;  and  I  think 
our  work  took  part  of  its  complexion  from  the  atti- 
tude of  the  other  churches  of  the  city  toward  it.  It 
is  a  happy  event  that  Dr.  Stratton  is  with  us  this  ev- 


TAVEN^TY-FJFTH  AXNIVERSARY.  61 

ening,  and  I  trust  tlie  word  he  says  will  seem  to  reacli 
away  back  to  that  distant  hour,  and  bring  again  to  us 
the  blessing  that  he  then  so  generously  gave  us. 

Dll.    STHATTO>r''ti   ADDRESS. 

Dr.  Stratton  spoke  substantially  as  follows: 
Ladies  and  qentlemen,  and  dear  hrother  ministers: 

The  frost  of  twenty-five  years  has  silvered  our 
heads  and  wrinkled  our  brows,  as  well  as  matured  our 
characters,  and  I  trust,  in  some  measure,  added  to  our 
wisdom.  Twenty-five  years  have  gone  by  and  have 
made  great  changes  in  the  outward  appearance  of  the 
city,  and  I  have  no  doubt  tlie  congregations  which 
looked  into  the  face  of  the  pastor  from  the  pews  of 
that  early  day  have  changed  as  much. 

Portland  was  fortunate  in  attracting  to  itself  at 
an  early  day  men  who  laid  well  its  foundations,  and 
have  since  been  able  to  carry  on  its  great  commercial 
and  financial  enterprises.  It  was  not  an  ordinary 
population  which  gathered  at  that  time  on  the  banks 
of  the  Willamette;  and  when  we  think  of  Portland 
with  7,000  or  8,000  inhabitants,  and  compare  it  with 
cities  of  the  same  size  elsewhere  now,  we  are  doing 
injustice  to  the  early  settlers  of  Portland  at  that 
time,  a  peculiar  class  of  men,  men  of  vigor,  grasp  and 
purpose,  who  were  capable  of  managing  its  future  af- 
fairs, and  who  showed  tliat  capacity  by  their  success 
later  in  life.  Therefore,  when  we  think  of  Portland 
then,  we  are  to  think  of  it  as  having  in  it  all  the  suc- 
cess and  promise  which  have  since  come  to  the  front 
in  its  material  prosperity. 


62  EXERCISES    OF    THE 

Now,  I  am  not  alliuliiif^  to  that  without  a  pur- 
pose. Jt  was  not  an  easy  tiling  to  be  a  minister  of 
liiat  time;  it  is  mueli  easier  to  minister  to  a  (luiet, 
commonplace  population  than  to  a  population  sucli  as 
those  who  laid  the  foundation  of  our  vigorous  eity  of 
to-day.  These  men  were  a  part  of  the  congregation  of 
this  church,  and  as  they  gathered  here  to  listen  to  tlie 
ministrations  of  this  young  pastor  from  Sabbath  to 
Sabbath,  of  course  they  did  not  listen  asordinary  men 
listen;  and  the  ability  to  hold  a  congregation  of  that 
kind  for  twenty-tive  years  involved  a  degree  of  tact, 
of  intellectual  vigor,  and  a  well  stored  mind;  all  of 
these  qualities  are  implied  in  an  extended  pastorate 
such  as  we  come  together  to  commemorate. 

Dr.  Eliot,  I  congratulate  you  on  havingcompleted 
a  i)astorate  of  twenty-tive  years  over  such  a  congrega- 
tion as  that  which  you  have  had  to  serve.  It  was  not 
a  little  thing  to  undertake;  it  has  not  been  a  little 
thing  to  accomjilish,  to  minister  to  a  congregation  for 
that  length  of  time:  it  has  implied  a  great  deal  more 
than  the  mere  statement  that  twenty-tive  years  have 
])een  completed.  That  a  man  can  pass  a  pastorate  of 
twenty-tive  years,  can  stand  before  his  congregation 
of  so  many,  can  minister  to  so  great  a  variety,  and  at 
the  end  of  twenty-five  years  can  look  into  the  faces 
of  a  congregation,  every  one  of  whom  is  his  frieiid. 
and  feel  lie  has  won  the  hearts  of  his  people,  and  pos- 
sesses them  in  his  hand.  imi)lies  a  gift  which  an  angel 
might  covet,  and  which.  I  am  sure,  I  congratulate  the 
pastor  of  this  congregation  on  having  possessed  and 
evinced  during  this  extended  term. 


TWENlY-FIFTir  ANNIVERSARY.  63 

Well,  it  is  not  merely  a  Avord  of  congratulation  to 
the  pastor.  It  seems  to  me  that  a  word  of  congratu- 
lation to  the  congregation  also  is  in  order.  There  are 
congregations  and  congregations.  Tliere  are  tliose 
wiio  come  to  listen,  to  be  benefited  and  protited;  oth- 
ers who  come  to  carp  and  criticise,  and  tear  to  pieces 
their  pastor  when  they  depart  from  tlie  cliurcli.  You 
are  not  such  a  congregation  as  this.  Tlie  fact  that 
you  have  received  the  ministries  of  this  servant  of  God 
during  all  these  years,  liave  extended  over  every  im- 
perfection the  mantleof  charity  (and  wliile  we  are  hu- 
man we  shall  have  imi)erfections),  and  have  received 
his  ministrations  in  a  kindly  spirit,  and  have  sustained 
them  loyally  and  untiringly;  all  of  that  implies  a  de- 
gree of  common-sense,  a  degree  of  wise  consideration 
for  the  wants  of  the  entire  body,  and  for  tlie  demands 
of  a  congregation  united  together  by  such  bonds  as 
tliose  whicli  unite  worshiping  congregations,  which 
does  not  belong  to  many  societies.  I  congratulate 
you  on  possessing  those  qualities  which  have  made  it 
possible  for  this  pastorate  to  extend  as  long  as  it  has. 

And  now,  bretliren  and  sisteis  in  tlie  gosi>el  of 
Jesus  Christ.  I  congratuhite  you  on  tliis  gathering; 
and  that  your  pastor  should  be  permitted  to  meet  you 
hereon  tliis  delightful  occasion. 

KEV.  MR.  (Lapp's  address. 

Rev.  Mr.  Clapp,   of  tlie   (Congregational  (niurcli, 
then  spoke  in  substance  as  follows: 
Ladies  and  (jnitkmen: 

1   have    regarded    my    invitation    to    \n' 
present  at  this  gathering  to-niglit  witii  mucli  esteem. 


04  EXKRCIlbES    OF    THE 

for  I  have  felt  tliat  the  event  which  we  are  celebrat- 
ing casts  a  dignity  upon  all  who  have  anytiiing  to  do 
with  it,  and  as  I  have  reflected  upon  it,  it  seemed  to 
me  that  it  deserved  to  be  called  the  celebration  of  a 
noble  achievement.  It  is  so  unusual  and  so  notable 
that  I  thought  our  commemoration  to-night  might  Ije 
compared  with  the  driving  of  the  last  spike  in  the 
Northern  Pacific  Railroad — the  completion  and  crown 
of  a  notable  and  eminent  undertaking. 

I  want  to  say  to  my  dear  brother  Eliot  that  we 
stand  here  to-night  as  friends  wlio  would  greet  him 
as  he  completes  a  notable  and  splendid  voyage;  as  he 
returns  from  a  carter  so  long,  so  successful,  so  stain- 
less— a  voyage  of  twenty-five  years.  And  whatever 
there  may  be  that  is  noble  and  inspiring  about  the 
whole  of  this  twenty-five  years'  enterprise,  we  never 
think  of  our  brother  as  being  alone  in  it,  but  always 
by  his  side  there  has  been  onewlio  has  given  to  the 
whole  stretch  of  the  years  a  ceaseless  inspiration  wiiich 
has  cast  luster  upon  every  event  connected  witli  it:  and 
so  our  vision  of  this  past  is  a  double  vision,  and  I  sup- 
pose it  always  will  be.  When  we  think  of  one  of  them  wc 
shall  always  see  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Eliot  standing  side  by 
side.  I  am  sure  you  will  all  approve  of  my  declaration 
in  this  respect;  but  I  am  well  aware,  dear  friends,  that 
the  scope  of  the  celebration  to-night  is  much  wider 
than  on  a  personal  or  household  ground.  "We  are 
commemorating  not  simply  a  household  pilgrinu^ge, 
but  the  march  of  a  host,  the  embarkation  of  a  whole 
ship's  company,  like   that  of  the  Mayflower  starting 


TWENTY-FIFTH  AN'MVERSAKY.  65 


out.  In  otlier  words,  it  would  be  a  very  i)oor  interpre- 
tation of  the  event  we  are  celebratiuf;  tonight  if  we 
did  not  think  of  it  as  the  completed  routul  of  botli 
pastor  and  people,  of  a  minister  and  his  ciiurcli;  and 
it  is  all  the  more  notable  and  conspicuous  because  it 
is  a  union,  as  has  already  been  said,  tiiat  has  histed 
tinougli  twenty-tive  years. 

To  tiie  words  of  tribute  alrt^ady  paid  by  Dr.  Strat- 
ton  I  may  add  just  one  more.  Some  of  us  may  I'e- 
member  the  coin  tliat  was  pUiced  in  the  hands  of  Jesus 
Christ  with  the  view  of  tempting  him.  and  he  re- 
marked upon  tlie  image  and  su()erscriplion  which 
were  Caesar's.  I  have  thouglit  of  that  often  in  my 
reflections— upon  Dr.  Eliot  "s  life  as  i>astor  of  this  people 
during  these  twenty-hve  years.  I  think  I  may  safely 
say,  ray  friends,  that  in  these  twenty-live  years  there 
is  nothing  connected  with  the  higher  life  of  this  city 
that  does  not  in  a  measure  bear  the  stamp  and  super- 
scription of  the  pastor  of  the  First  Unitarian  Church 
of  Portland. 

May  I  be  pardoned  now  if  1  say  just  a  word  per- 
sonally. My  brother  is  not  only  my  fellow-pastor  in 
the  good  works  of  this  city,  but  he  is  my  neighbor.  It 
has  been  one  of  the  felicities  of  my  life  that  we  have 
had  only  a  doctor  between  us  for  the  past  tive  years. 
We  have  lived  side  by  side  as  neigiibors,  and  in  all  his 
relations  to  nie,  and  the  relations  of  his  family  to 
mine,  there  has  never  been  anything  but  got)dness  and 
kindness,  and  good-cheer,  and  a  great  measure  of 
friendship.     So  to-night  my  heart  is  stirred  by  the  re- 


()()  EXERCIfcES    OF    THE 


latioiisliip  lliat  \v«  Hie  eoiisideiing  lieie  at  this  time — 
so  much  so  tlmt  [  speiik  out  of  tlie  dei)ths  of  my  iieart. 
I  am  reminded  of  a  little  thinji;  I  lead  in  the  reader 
when  I  was  a  child,  like  so  many  otiiers  that  come  to 
me.  A  mother's  birthday  was  to  be  celebrated,  and 
the  three  boys  were  plaunin<f  for  tiieir  gifts.  The  two 
older  had  their  selection,  and  the  younger  liad  uotli- 
ing  to  give;  but  the  little  l:id  stepped  in  front  of  liis 
mother,  stretched  out  his  hand,  and  saiii: 

"Take,  mother ilear.  Ilii-;  hanfi 

Which  now  T  jiive  to  you; 
Aiui  hiilst  ihoii  not  for  many  a  year 

My  hcai-t.  I'd  f^ive  that  too  " 

DK.    TJUOWN's    address. 

Rev.  Dr.  Brown  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Cluncli 
spoke  as  follows: 

I  hardly  realized  when  I  promised  to  speak  a  few 
words  this  evening  that  I  shoidd  be  expected  to  make 
a  formal  address,  and  tlie  only  thing  that  saves  me 
now  is  that  you  will  not  expect  me  to  spenk  long  at 
this  late  lu)ur. 

I  know  very  little  about  Dr.  Eliot  as  a  minister, 
for  being  a  minister  myself,  and  being  engaged  at  the 
same  lime  tliat  he  has  been  engaged,  I  do  not  have 
opportunity  of  hearing  him.  Indeed,  if  my  memory 
serves  me,  I  have  never  heard  him  but  once,  and  then 
at  the  funeral  of  my  i)iedecessor,  the  much  loved  Dr. 
Aaron  L.  I.,in(lsley;  and  then  Dr.  Eliot  spoke  such 
kind  and  tender  words  that  he  quite  won  my  heart. 
I  do  not  know  very  much  about  him  as  a  theologian; 
except  that   he   belongs  to  that  body  at    the   farthest 


T  WENT  Y-F 1  FXn  A  N  N I V  E  IIS  A  U  Y. 


possible  remove  from  Piesliyteiiaiii^ni.  Aud  ;is  I 
do  not  suspect  his  (leiiomiiuitional  loyalty,  and  as  I 
trust  he  does  not  suspect  mine,  and  as  I  do  not 
suspect  his  tenacity,  and  I  sui>p(>se  lie  does  not  suspect 
mine,  we  just  avoid  theologiCHl  questions  when  we 
meet,  and  so  we    <j;et  along  f.imously. 

Nevertheless,  I  am  very  ghid  indeed  to  l;e  pres- 
ent this  evening,  and  to  add  my  humble  congratula- 
tions to  the  congregation  and  pastor.  I  liave  met  Dr. 
Eliot  as  a  man,  and  have  learned  to  love  him  as  a 
man;  and  after  all.  that  is  the  real  thing.  Xo  man 
has  any  more  influence  in  any  ]>rofessional  jiosition 
than  he  has  as  a  m;in.  It  is  the  character  that  gives 
weight  and  dignity  to  the  profession,  and  as  such  we 
have  learned  to  love  Dr.  Eliot:  and  on  this  occasion, 
when  we  are  all  speaking  quite  frankly  and  quite  ten- 
derly, I  may  be  permitted  to  speak  of  those  things  in 
him  which  have  greatly  impressed  me.  We  are  at- 
tracted by  the  beauty  of  his  character,  by  the  sweet- 
ness of  his  disposition,  by  the  symmetry  of  his  devel- 
opment, by  the  kindliness  of  his  heart,  by  the  evident 
loftiness  of  his  aspirations.  His  type  of  character  has 
impressed  me  as  more  like  the  apostle  John's  charac- 
ter than  that  of  almost  any  other  minister  of  this  city; 
and  I  have  admired  him  all  the  more  because  I  am 
particularly  wanting  in  some  of  these  elements  myself. 
I  have  beeu  impiTssed,  as  doubtless  you  all  have,  by 
his  philanthropic  spirit.  I  flunk  he  has  well  exempli- 
fied in  this  city  the  dehuition  of  philanthropy,  philos, 
loving,  and  anthropos,  man.     Dr.   Eliot    has    been    iu 


68  KXEKCISES    OK     I  UK 


this  CDintuiiiiity  ;is  a  iiuiii  wlio  loves  ami  serves  his  fel- 
low-niaii,  even  the  weakest  and  most ()!>i)ressed.  And 
I  do  not  need  to  stand  in  this  piesenfe  and  speak  of 
his  interest  in  hninanilaii;in  woik  in  this  city. 

It  seems  to  me  that  his  twenty-live  years  in  this 
city  have  meant  a  {^reat  deal.  We  are  very  proud  of 
the  material  lesourecs  of  the  Faeitic  Northwest.  We 
always  s|»eak  of  these  r«  sources  with  i)ride.  God  has 
placed  us  in  the  midst  of  a  reo^ion  of  unexampled 
wealth;  and  wlicn  we  think  of  oui' magnificent  scenery, 
and  our  mild  and  ecpialile  climate,  and  the  ricliness 
and  variety  of  our  resources,  it  does  not  require  any 
prophetic  vision  lo  see  a  great  future  before  this  peo- 
ple. And  now  the  danger  is.  men  and  brethren,  that 
our  people  will  become  i)reoecui)ied  with  material 
things;  that  there  will  be  such  an  enormous  material 
development  that  men  will  forego  the  developmerit  of 
the  higher  life. 

I  believe  it  has  been  a  great  thing  that  a  man  of 
Dr.  Eliofs  character,  interests  and  position  has  simply 
lived  in  this  community  for  twenty-live  years;  for  yoxi 
have  been  able  to  see  in  him  a  man  who  has  had  some 
other  purpose  than  tlie  acquisition  of  wealth,  and 
whose  object  has  been  the  cultivation  of  righteous- 
ness and  temperance  and  philanthropy  and  all  of  those 
things  which  go  to  the  development  of  individuality 
and  character.  In  this  respect  Dr.  Eliot  has  certainly 
accomplished  a  great  deal. 

I  rejoice,  therefore,  in  this  celebration  to-night, 
and  wisli  to  add  my  humble  and    hearty  congratula- 


TWENTY-KIFTH  AXNIVEUSAUY.  69 

tions  tc  Dr.  Eliot  for  his  success  in  holding  this  pul- 
pit for  twenty-five  years,  and  my  congratulatiim  to 
the  congregation  which  has  stood  by  liim  so  faithfully 
for  twenty-five  years.  The  only  element  of  regret 
that  I  have  is  that  Dr.  Eliot's  heallli  has  been  .some- 
what imi)aired.  And  I  most  hearlily  unite  in  the 
prayers  of  this  congregation,  which  1  know  many  of 
you  offer,  that  God  will  restore  iiim  to  his  customary 
liealth  and  strength,  and  that  he  may  have  many, 
many  years  of  usefulness  and  power  in  this  commu- 
nity. 

LETTERS  OF  CONOH  ATULATION     A.ND    GOOD-WILL. 

Rev.  Mr.  Wilbur,  the  associate  pastor,  then  read 
a  considerable  number  of  letters  and  telegrams  from 
friends  far  and  near.  The  foUawiiig  especially  de- 
serve to  be  given  here: 

Sa.n  Fra.n(;is(jo.  Dec.  26,  1892. 
Tlie  First  Unitarian  Church,   I'ortland,   (Jr.: 

The  Directors  of  the  Pacific  Unitarian  Confei- 
ence,  in  the  name  of  all  the  (churches  in  the  region  of 
the  Western  Coast,  send  sincere  regards  and  Christian 
salutations  to  the  First  Unitarian  Church  of  Portland, 
Oregon,  on  the  twenty-fifth  anniversary  of  the  dedi- 
cation of  its  first  phice  of  worsliip,  and  the  completion 
of  the  twenty-fifth  year  of  the  ministry  of  the  honored, ' 
revered  and  beloved  Thomas  Lamb  Eliot. 

The  Directors,  with  true  feeling  and  sympathy 
with  the  sentiments  of  the  hour,  congratidate  the 
church  on  the  past;  though  the  thought  that  the  act- 
ive ministry  that  has  made  the  past  under  God  so  full 
of  good  is  to  be  withdrawn,  gives  a   momentaiy  pain. 


70  EXKRCI&ES    OF    THE 


But  fjratitude  for  what  we  liave  known  and  fell  and 
received  assuages  regret,  and  we  liail  willi  joy  the 
servant  of  God  who  rests  awhile. 

Horatio  Steijbins, 
Horace  Davis, 
Charles  W.  Wendte, 

ClIAKLES  A.  MURDOCK, 

Thomas  V'an  Ness. 

San  Fran'cisco,  Dec.  126,  185)2. 

The  People  and  Minister  of  thf  Fimt  UnHarian  Church, 
Portland,  Or.: 

Dear  Friends:  While  I  submit  to  tlie  necessity 
of  time  and  events  that  deprives  me  so  keeidy,  I  be- 
seech you  to  allow  me  to  address  you  as  if  I  were  in 
your  presence.  Some  of  you  will  remember  me  as  I 
was  twenty-six  years  ago,  when,  at  your  lequest,  I 
went  to  Portland,  and  in  the  few  weeks  that  I  re- 
mained there,  by  your  earnest  and  faithful  co-opera- 
tion, the  moral  and  spiritual  foundations  of  tlie  church 
were  laid.  The  town  was  small — a  village  of  ti.OOO 
people,  with  a  near-by  background  of  wilderness, 
smoking  with  frontiersman's  fires.  Access  was  by 
ocean  and  river,  or  by  slow  and  heavy  mail  coach 
through  mountain  gorges. 

We  received  much  kindness  from  Christians  of 
different  names;  Methodists  and  Baptists  invited  us 
to  worshij)  in  their  i)Iaces,  and  on  the  last  Sunday 
that  I  preached  the  elder  of  the  church  was  with  me 
in  the  pulpit,  and  he  told  me  how  lie  had  pulled  his 
skiff  from  headland  to  headland,  on  Puget  Souiul,  and 
drawn  it  ashore  for  shelter  through  the  night. 

We  went  from  house  to  house  of  evenings,  had 
pleasant  talks  and  social  cheer,  and  took  account  of 
probabilities  and  possibilities  concerning  the  founding 
of  a  church.     Some  of  the  houses  I  remember   now 


TWENTY-FIFTH  ANNIVEKSARY.  71 


were  ihe  Frazars.  the  Thompsons,  the  Bmiages,  the 
Cookes.  At  lengtli  a  body  was  orj>ai)ized,  and  in  an 
hour  two  thousand  doUais  were  subscribed  to  j)urchase 
ground  aud  build.  Ou  the  very  next  day  the  lot  was 
selected  where  you  now  are.  There  were  burnt  logs 
of  the  forest  lying  there.  Tliis  was  in  May.  1866. 
You  went  on,  built  a  little  cha])el  for  a  few  hundred 
dollars,  sustained  yourselves  in  loneliness  until  Decem- 
ber, 1867,  when  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Eliot,  with  the  young 
minister  of  ."^eattle,  not  then  ordained,  cjime  by  way  of 
Panama  and  San  Francisco,  stopping  with  me  a  few 
days.  I  went  with  them  to  the  steamer  on  a  dark, 
drizzly  day  and  bade  them  adieu,  and  yet  not  adieu, 
for  they  were  ever  with  me.  and  their  hearts  were 
strong.  I  felt  that  never  did  ship  carry  more  precious 
freight!  The  future  of  the  church  was  assured.  Such 
lirmness  of  purpose,  such  quiet,  silent  fortitude,  such 
clear  vision  of  truth  and  duty,  were  a  pledge  of  the 
truest  success;  for  had  thev  not  succeeded  they  would 
have  done  better,  even,  deserved  it. 

For  the  rest,  time  and  events  tell.  The  church 
has  been  a  strong  center  of  moral  and  religious  influ- 
ence. It  has  been  the  conservator  of  the  highest  hu- 
man interests.  It  has  shed  light  and  truth  and  jjeace 
upon  many  lives,  and  sent  genial  beams  of  human  and 
divine  sympathy  upon  every  good  enterprise.  It  has 
not  been  cornered  in  sectarian  zeal,  nor  has  it  loved 
itself  better  than  it  loved  the  truth.  It  could  not 
have  been  thus,  unless  it  had  been  inspired  and  guided 
by  a  manly  spirit. 

And  you.  Dr.  Eliot,  my  dear  sir,  your  preseuce 
shall  not  prevent  me.  What  wisdom,  wliat  discretion, 
what  sagacity!  What  teiujcity  of  purpose,  what  wil- 
ful righteousness,  what  genial  charity!  What  exam- 
])le  of  independence,  with  sweet  acknowledgment  of 
debt  to  all  excellence!     What  dignity  and   refinement 


72  KXEKUISES    OF    TIIK 

of  domestic  life!  What  lioly  lives  upon  tlie  lieartii, 
and  what  lif^lit  st  reaiiiiiiy,'  atar  from  the  wiiidowsl 
Wliat  moilest  leaniiiijr.  what  commiiiiion  with  noblest 
minds!  Wliat  manners  of  wit  and  satire,  and  laugh- 
ter and  story!  What  awe,  what  reverence,  wiiat 
faith,  what  love! 

Whatever  your  atllictions.  I  call  you  hapjiy! 
Whatever  your  trials.  I  call  you  victorious!  For  he 
indeed  is  blessed  wiio  has  learned  what  life  is  for.  and 
has  solved  in  his  own  being  his  own  destiny. 

Horatio  Steubins. 

(3ther  letters  and  telegrams  of  congratulation 
were  read  from  Rev.  Thomas  L.  (^ole,  rector  of  Trin- 
ity Church,  Portland;  the  First  Unitarian  Church  of 
Oakland,  Cal.,  through  Rev.  Charles  W.  Wendte;Rev. 
Grindall  Reynolds,  Secretary  of  the  American  Ihiita- 
rian  Association;  Rev.  John  C  Kimball,  Hartford, 
Conn.;  Rev.  Charles  Noyes,  North  Andover,  Mass.; 
and  Rev.  Edward  I.  Galvin,  Chicago,  111. 

The  choir  then  rendered  another  approi)riate 
number,  and  the  benediction  was  pronounced  by  Rev. 
Tilgham  Brown,  after  which  the  congregation  were 
invited  into  tlie  cliapel  to  an  informal  reception  given 
to  D)'.  and  Mrs.  Eliot  in  celebration  of  the  completion 
of  the  twenty-fiftli  year  of  the  pastorate,  which  liad 
been  accomplished  five  days  before.  The  reception 
was  under  the  auspices  of  the  Women's  Auxiliary. 
The  chapel  was  crowded  until  a  late  hour  with  friends 
from  the  home  church,  from  other  churches,  and  from 
none,  desiring  to  congratulate  the  pastor  and  his  wife, 
and  to  wish  them  yet   many  happy    years    with    the 


TWENTY-FIFTH  ANN1VEK8ARY.  73 

church  and  community  which  their  life  has  served  so 
fully. 

Tlie  anniversary  sermon  was  preached  on  Sunday 
morning,  January  1,  by  Rev.  Mr.  Wilbur.  The  text 
was  Deuteronomy  vii.  7,  8,  9.  It  presented  a  full 
Jiistory  of  the  church  and  its  work  from  its  foundation 
down  to  the  present  day.  The  church  was  again 
crowded  to  its  full  capacity.  The  substance  of  the 
sermon  is  contained  in  the  history  of  the  church  printed 
elsewhere  in  this  book. 

The  twenty- fifth  anniversary  of  the  founding  of 
the  Sunday-school  was  observed  with  appropriate  ex- 
ercises on  Sunday,  January  8. 


APPENDIXES. 


APPENDIX   A. 


CONSTITUTION 

OK    THE 

FIRST  UNITARIAN  SOCIETY  OF  PORTLAND,  OREGON, 

ADOPTED  JUNE   26,   1866. 


F»  i«  e;  A.:viis  r^  IS : 


I)e.sii"iM<i'  to  proinote  the  objects  of  Piililic  Wor- 
sliip;  tlie  Cliiistian  FMith;  the  OrdiiiHnces  ol  tlie  Gos- 
pel; Heligious  iMlncatioii;  Geneial  ISeiievoleiice;  Cliar- 
ily,  1111(1  Christian  Toh'iatioii,  the  uiHlersigiied  hereby 
adopt  ilie  followiiiy- 


c:>o::vs"ri'jruTi<:>>r, 


ARTICLE  I. 

NAMK. 

Tills  Society  shall  be  called  the  Fikst  Unitarian 

S;JCIETY  OF  POUTLAND.  Ol'.EOON. 


78'  KXEltCISES    OF    THE 


articlp:  II. 

MEMllEHSIIIl'. 

All  persons  owning  orleusiiig  pt-vvsor  se;its  in  the 
(thurcli  belonging  to  this  Sofiety,  and  statedly  wor- 
shippinu' therein,  or  contiibnting  annually  to  the  funds 
of  tiie  Society,  sliall  be  entitled  to  rnen)beiship  on  sub- 
scribing their  ninnes  to  tliis  Constitutioti. 

AllTICLE   HI. 

OFFICERS. 

Section  1. — Officers  of  this  Society  must  be 
members  thereof,  and  shall  consist  of  nine  Trustees 
elected  by  the  members  of  the  Society;  a  Moderator, 
a  Clerk,  and  a  Treasurer,  which  last  tiiree  named  sliall 
be  chosen  by  tlie  lioard  of  Trustees  from  their  own 
number. 

TERMS  OF  office — MODE  OF  DETERMINING,  AND  VA- 
CANCIES. 

Sec.  2. — The  nine  Trustees  elected  at  the  first 
annual  meeting  in  the  year  IHtiT,  shall  at  their  first 
meeting  after  election,  determine  by  lot  the  terms  of 
ofHce,  so  that  three  shall  continue  in  office  one  yeai-, 
three  for  two  years  and  three  for  three  years:  and 
thereafter  the  term  of  office  shall  be  three  years  or  un- 
til their  successors  are  elected  and  qualified.  Pro- 
vided, if  a  vacancy  shall  occur  in  the  office  of  any 
Trustee,  the  vacancy  shall  be  filled  by  the  Board  of 
Trustees,  and  the  person  appointed  or  elected  to  fill 
the  same  shall  hold  office  only  during  the  unexpired 
term  of  his  jn'edecessor,  so  that  there  shall  be  elected 
annually  three  Trustees  to  hold  their  office  three 
years. 

OFFICERS. — nOAV  ('HOSEN. 

Sec.  3.—  The   Moderator,   Clerk   and   Treasurer 


T WENT Y- Fl FTH  A X N  1 VEIISA R Y. 


sliall  be  chosen  by  the  Board  of  Trustees  from  tlieir 
own  number,  and  shall  continue  in  office  lespectively 
one  year,  oi'  until  their  successors  are  chosen  and 
qualified. 

POWERS  AND  Dl'TIES    OK  TRUSTEES. 

Sec.  4. — The  Trustees  shall,  until  in('ori)oralioii 
under  the  laws  of  Oregon,  hold  and  exercise  control 
over  the  property  of  the  Society,  and  niarage  all  its 
business  affairs  accordintito  the  regulations  prescribed 
by  tlie  Society  for  the  best  inteiest  of  the  same,  and 
aftei'  incorporation  shall  assume  and  exercise  tlie 
rights  and  i)owers  conferred  by  the  laws  of  Oregon  in 
such  cases  made  aiid  provided,  and  such  as  may  be 
granted  by  this  Constitution  and  defined  in  any  by- 
laws which  from  time  to  time  may  be  enactKl  by  tlie 
Society:  Provided,  nothing  shall  be  construed  as  giv- 
ing them  i)ower  to  alienate  the  propeitv  of  the  Society 
without  a  vote  of  the  Society  therefor,  duly  given  at  a 
l>ublic  meeting  thereof  as  hereinafter  i)rovided.  They 
shall  adopt  means  to  sustain  the  preaching  of  the 
Gospel  and  the  administration  of  theordinancesof  the 
fliurch.  according  to  the  usages  tliereof,  fiu'nish  the 
house  of  worship  with  all  tiecessary  fixtures,  furni- 
ture, fuel  and  lights,  institute  and  carry  into  effect 
measures  for  raising  the  necessary  funds  to  defray  the 
expenses  of  tlieir  trust,  and  shall  draw  the  same  from 
the  treasury  by  vote  of  the  Board  of  Trustees:  Pr-o- 
vidcd.  that  no  nproi)rialion  shall  he  made  exceeding 
five  hundred  dollars  ($500. (iO),  without  a  vote  of  the 
Society. 

MEETINGS    OK  THE    I!OA  RP. 

Sec.  5. — The  Board  of  Trustees  shall  meet  on  ti;e 
last  Tuesday  of  July.  October.  January  and  Atnil, 
and  special  meetings  may  bewailed  by  the  Moderator, 
at  the  request  of  any  two  members  of  the  same,  upon 
not  less  than  two  davs'  notice  to  the  other  Trustees. 


80  EXhlfCl.-KS     OF     TIIK 


QUOHl'M    AND    1!K(()I:D. 

Se(;.  (5. — Five  niembeis  shall  constitiitc  a  (Hioninj 
to  do  l)nsiiiess,  and  a  recoid  sliall  be  kept  of  all  tlieir 
jJioceediiiKs. 

clerk's    Dl'TlKS. 

Sec.  7. — The  Clerk  sliall  keep  a  recoid  of  the 
names  of  the  members  of  this  Society:  shall  have 
cliarj>e  of  its  archives  and  be  i  ('sponsible  for  their  safe 
keeiiiii^';  shall  lecord  correct!)  all  proceedin<is  of  meet- 
ings of  the  Society  and  of  the  Board  of  Trustees;  shall 
see  that  due  notice  is  given  of  all  such  meetings;  and 
in  the  absence  of  the  Moderator  shall  call  meetings  to 
order;  and  shall  draw  warrants  on  the  Treasurer  for 
all  sums  of  money  api)ropriated  l)y  the  Board  of  Trus- 
tees or  the  Society,  which  orders  shall  be  counter- 
signed by  the  Moderator. 

TKEASUREK"s    DCTIES. 

Sec.  8. — The  Treasure!"  shall  receive  all  funds 
belonging  to  the  Society,  giving  his  receipt  therefor, 
hold  the  same  as  a  special  deposit,  keep  a  regular  ac- 
count thereof,  noting  the  object  for  which  sums  are 
received,  and  paying  the  same  upon  the  Avarrants  of 
the  Clerk,  countersigned  as  required  in  the  preceding 
section.  He  shall  report  to  the  annual  meeting  of 
the  Society  in  January  of  each  year  the  state  of  the 
treasury,  and  to  the  Board  of  Trustees  every  quarter, 
and  whenever  specially  required  by  them.  At  the 
close  of  his  term  of  office  he  shall  submit  a  detailed 
account  of  his  official  acts,  with  proper  vouchers,  to 
the  Board  of  Trustees  for  ai)proval.  and  shall  deliver 
to  his  successor  all  books  and  i)apers  of  the  Society  in 
his  possession,  with  whatever  money  may  remain  in 
the  treasury,  taking  a  receipt  therefor. 


TWEN'TY-FirTII  AXN  IVEllSAHY.  81 


ARTICLE    IV. 

ELECTIONS.   HOW  HELD,   AND    WHEN  ONE  IS  ELECTED 
TO    OFFICE. 

All  elections  shall  be  lield  by  ballot.  Eveiy  iiiem- 
ber  of  the  Society  present  in  person  shall  be  eniilleci 
to  vote,  ana  the  person  or  persons  receiving  the  high- 
est number  of  votes  shall  be  declared  duly  elected. 

AXNX'AL  MKETI.VGS,  WHEN  AND  HOW  HELD. 

The  annual  election  of  officers  sluill  take  i)hi('e  on 
the  second  Tuesday  of  January,  under  the  supervision 
of  three  judges  chosen  by  the  Trustees  from  the  Soci- 
ety. Provlikd,  if,  at  any  election,  it  shall  happen 
that  any  one  or  more  of  the  judges  appointed  by  the 
Board  shall  be  absent,  or  unable  foi-  Muy  cause  to 
serve;  a  majority  of  the  members  may  apiutint  rira 
voce  any  member  present  to  fill  the   vacancy. 

HOW  OFFICERS  QUALIFY. 

The  officers  elected  shall  qualify  by  signing,  with- 
in ten  days  after  their  election,  a  pai)er  signifying  an 
acceptance  of  the  trust,  and  a  promise  to  discharge 
the  duties  thereof  to  the  best  of  their  ability,  which 
paper  shall  be  tiled  with  the  Clerk  and  i)reserved  as  a 
a  part  of  the  records  of  the  Society.  Provided,  that 
the  officers  first  electeil  after  the  adoption  of  this  Con- 
stitution, shall  qualify  as  afoiesaid  within  three  days 
after  their  election,  and  shall  hold  their otliceoiily  till 
the  tenth  day  after  the  annual  meeting  in  January, 
1S67. 

FAILING  OF  ELECTION. 

Should  there  fail  to  be  any  election  at  tlie  regu- 
lar meeting,  it  shall  adjourn  from  time  to  time  for 
that  purpose. 


82  EXERC1:?ES    OF    THE 

KEMOVAL  FROM   PARISH. 

Permanent  removal  from  the  Parish  shall  be  held 
equivalent  to  a  resignation  of  otlice. 

SPECIAL     ELECTION. 

There  shall  be  a  special  election  on  the  30th  day 
of  June,  1866,  for  the  election  of  officers  to  hold  their 
office  as  above  provided  till  the  tenth  day  after  the 
first  regular  annual  election. 

ARTICLE  y. 

ANNUAL  3IEETING?. 

The  annual  meeting  of  the  Society  shall  be  held 
on  the  second  Tuesday  of  January,  of  wiiich  due  no- 
tice shall  be  given  from  the  pulpit  (in  case  there  be 
])reaching)  on  the  .Sunday  previous,  and  by  notice 
posted  at  the  churcli  door  five  days  previous  to  such 
meeting;  and  at  such  meeting  the  Treasurer  shall  pje- 
sent  his  annual  report,  and  theelection  of  officers  take 
place. 

QUORUM. 

Twelve  members  shall  constitute  a  quorum  of  the 
Society. 

SPECIAL    MEETJNCiS. 

Special  meetings  may  be  called  by  the  Trustees 
upon  like  notice  as  an  annual  meeting. 

ARTICLE  Yl. 

DUTIES  AND  POWERS  OF  TRUSIEES    OVER    PROPERTY. 

The  property  of  the  Society  shall  be  held  in  trust 
by  the  Trustees  and  their  successors  duly  elected,  for 
the  exclusive  use  and  benefit  of  the  Sf)ciety,  and  shall 
never    be    alienated    from    the  purposes   of  Liberal 


TWENlY-KlFTn  ANNIVERSARY. 


Chiislian  worsbip,  or  in  any  way  pledged,  mortgaged 
or  disposed  of  for  any  purpose  whatever.  Provided, 
llmt  upon  a  vote  of  two  thirds  of  the  members  of  the 
Society  present  at  any  meeting  didy  called,  authoriz- 
ing it.  the  Trustees  may  sell  or  otiierwise  dispose  of, 
or  lease  any  property  real  or  personal  of  the  Society 
for  the  purpose  of  securing  a  better  location,  or  mak- 
ing improvements  and  repairs,  the  vote  authorizing 
such  sale  or  other  disposal,  to  specify  the  object  fur 
whicli  tlie  proceeds  shall  be  ap}>]ied. 

ARTICLE  VII. 

RENTING    OF    PEWS. 

Pews,  or  seats,  in  the  church  sliall  be  renled  or  be 
free,  according  as  the  Trustees  may  from  tinie  to 
time  order. 

ARTICLE  VIII. 

CHANGING  THE  CONSTITUTION. 

This  Constitution  may  be  altered  in  any  particu- 
lar by  a  vote  of  two  thirds  of  the  Board  of  Trustees, 
and  two  thirds  of  the  members  of  the  Society  present 
at  any  meeting  of  the  Society  duly  called,  due  noti*  e 
of  the  proposed  alteration  being  specially  given  with 
the  notice  of  the  meeting,  excepting  find  leserving 
from  the  power  of  amendment  hereby  granted  the 
provisions  relating  to  alienation  or  disposal  of  church 
property. 


THE  ORIGINAL  SIGNERS  TO  THE  CONSTITUTION. 

E.  D.  Shattuck,  W.  W.  Spauldiug, 

Thomas  Frazar.  J.  M.  Gilman, 

Wm.  E.  Cooper,  R.  A.  White, 


84  ICXKUCISKS     OK     THE 

Charles  W.  Hmra^fe.  Martin  S.  I'.iiircll. 

Will.  F.  Wilcox,  Alex.  I'.   .Viii<eiiy. 

11.  R.  Tliompsori,  E.  M.  Burton, 

-James  VV.  Cook,  I).  II.  Ilendee, 

A.  J.  Dufur,  11.  S.  McLeran, 

E.  B.  Dulur.  C.  P.  Ferry, 

Andrew  Dufur.  F.  M.  Ariioki. 

II.  ('.  Coulsou.  II.  B.  Hastings, 

Ira  Goodnonnli.  Charles  Hodge. 

APPENDIX    B. 


Arlioles  of  Iiicorixtratioii  of  the  First  Utiit.irian  Society 
of  Portland,  Orearoii. 


WiiKKEAs.  the  persons  hereinafter  named  have 
been  duly  elected  as  Trustees  of  the  religious  society 
hereinafter  named,  and  said  society  desire  to  incorpo- 
rate for  llie  ])urpose  of  carrying  out  the  objects  of  said 
society.  Now  Kxf)w  all  Mkn  by  tukse  Pkeskn'js. 
That  we.  Thomas  Fra/.ar,  R.  R.  Tliompson.  James  W. 
Cook,  R.  A.  White.  J.  M.  Gihuaii.  Ira  Goodnougli, 
Chas  W.  Buna-re,  AVm.  F.  Wilcox  and  E.  D.  Shat- 
tuck.  the  Trustees  of  the  Fii'st  rnitarian  Society  of 
Portland,  Oregon,  do  make  and  sulisciibe  in  triplicate 
these  articles  of  incorporation: 

1.  The  name  by  whicli  this  corporation  is  called 
and  shall  be  known  is.  The  Fihst  I'nitakian  Soci- 
ety OF  Portland,  Ohegon,  and  its  duration  is  to  be 
perpetual. 


TWEXTY-FJFTII  AXNIVEUSAUY.  85 

2.  The  objects,  business  and  pursuits  of  said  coi-- 
poration  shall  be  to  promote  the  ol)jeets  of  Public 
Worship,  the  Christian  Faith,  the  Ordinances  of  the 
Gospel,  Religious  Education.  General  Benevolence, 
Charity  and  Christian  Toleration. 

3.  The  estimated  value  of  the  property  and 
money  possessed  by  said  religious  society  at  the  date 
hereof  is  Two  Thousand  Dollars,  and  the  prospective 
increase  not  to  exceed  One  Hundred  Thousand  Dol- 
lars. The  sources  of  revenue  and  income  are  the  do- 
nations and  contributions  of  tliose  interested  in  the 
objects  of  the  society  and  incorporating  witli  it  for  the 
promotion  of  those  objects,  and  the  rents  and  profits 
of  pews  and  seats  in  any  church  edifice  of  the  Society 
and  of  other  property  which  it  may  lawfully  hold. 

4.  The  officers  of  said  society  are  nine  Trustees, 
of  whom  one  is  Moderator,  a  second  is  Clerk  and  a 
third  is  Treasurer.  The  said  Trustees  are  elected  by 
the  members  of  the  Society,  voting  by  ballot,  in  classes 
of  three  each,  at  a  regular  annual  meeting  to  be  held 
on  the  second  Tuesday  of  January;  and  hold  their  of- 
fices three  years.  Vacancies  in  the  Board  of  Trustees 
to  be  filled  by  the  Board.  The  persons  so  chosen  to 
liold  office  during  the  unexpired  term  of  their  prede- 
cessors. The  Moderator,  Clerk,  and  Treasurer  are 
chosen  by  the  Board  from  their  own  number. 

5.  The  location  of  said  society  is  Portland, 
Multnomah  County,  Oregon. 

In  testimony  whereof.  We,  the  said  Trustees  and 
corporators,  being  all  residents  of  Multnomah  County 


86  EXEUCISES    OF    THE 


()rf'<T()ii,  do  resi)f'('tively  sign  our  niunes  hereto  and 
fiffix  our  seals  tliis  Ittli  day  of  July,  A.  I).  ISGfi,  in 
triplicate. 

Thomas  Fuazau, 
E.  i).  Shattuck, 
E.  R.  Thompson, 
Charles  W.  Burhaok. 
Ira  Goodnough, 

J.  M.  GiLMAN, 

Wm.  F.  Wilcox, 
James  W.  Cook, 
R.  A.  White. 
State  of  Oregon,  / 

County  of  Multnomah.  \ 

On  this  9tli  day  of  July,  A.  D.  1866,  personally 
appeared  before  nie  the  inidersigned,  Thomas  Frazar, 
E.  D.  Shattuck,  K.  R.  Thompson.  Charles  W.  Eurrage, 
Ira  Goodnougli.  J.  M.  Gilman,  Wm.  F.  Wilcox,  and 
J.  W.  Cook,  to  me  known  to  be  the  identical  persons 
<lescribed  in  and  who  executed  the  within  instrument 
of  writing,  and  severally  acknowledged  before  me 
that  they  executed  the  same  for  the  purpose  therein 
set  forth. 

In  testimony  whereof,  I  hereto  set  my  hand  and  of- 
ficial seal;  the  day  and  year  above  written. 

E.  D.  BACKENSTOS, 
Notary  Public,  Multnomah  Co..  Oregon. 

State  of  Oregon,  } 

County  of  Multnomoh.  \ 
On  this  16th  day  of  July,  A.  D.  1866.    personally 
appeared  before  me  the  undersigned,  R.  A.  White,  to 
me  known  to  be  the  identical  person  described   in  and 


TWEN'l  Y-KlFJII  ANNIVKllSAKY, 


who  executed  the  \\itliin  insliunient  '>i'  writing,  and 
acknowledged  that  he  executed  the  .same  for  the  luir- 
l>oees  therein  set  forth. 

In  tefitimony  whereof,  I  have  hereunto  set  my  Ijand 
and  official, seal  the  day  and  year  above  written. 
E.  D.  BACKENSTOS, 
Notary  Public,  Multnomah  Co.,  Ongon. 

One  copy  of  the  foregoing  Articles  of  Incorpoia- 
tion  has  been  filed  in  the  office  of  the  Secretaiy  of 
State,  one  in  the  office  of  the  Clerk  of  Multnoniali 
County;  and  one  retained  by  the  Society. 


APPENDIX    C. 


Rooms  OF  the  American  UNiTAitiAN  Association, 

26,  Chauncy  Street, 

Boston.  Mass.,  Sept.  2,  1867. 

My  dear  Mr.  Eliot: 

A  letter  from  your  father  to- 
day emboldens  me  to  repeat  a  suggestion  already 
made  to  you  in  regard  to  Portland,  Oregon.  The  facts 
are  simply  these:  Portland  has  now  a  iiopulation  of 
7.000,  and  is  the  centre  of  intluence  for  the  70.000  of 
Oiegon.  The  community  and  the  peculiar  advanta- 
ges of  the  place  Hre  so  well  set  forth  in  Bowles"  book 
and  others  that  you  liave  seen,  that  I  will  not  repeat 
them.  When  Mr.  Stebbins  jireached  there  he  had 
magnificent  response,  and  enough  were  found  ready 
to  act.  to  go  forward  at  once  with  the  erection  of  a 
chapel,  which  was  to  have  been  dedicated  last  month 


88  EXERCISES    OK    THE 


(Aug.).  I  suppose  it  was  dehiyed  because  they  had 
leasou  to  expect  Mr.  Young  to  go  out  as  their  pastor, 
and  they  may  liave  waited  for  his  coming.  Tiiey 
wrote  to  me  that  they  "are  willing  to  pay  liberally  for 
the  right  man."  Tliey  have  started  a  sewing  circle 
and  seem  truly  in  earnest,  and  are  waiting  for  a  min- 
ister. 

All  pecuniary  arrangements  can  be  arranged  by 
telegraph  if  you  should  think  favorably  of  gt)ing.  The 
climate  and  beauty  of  situation,  etc.,  and  general 
surroundings  make  it  very  attractive;  but  it  is  chiefly 
the  opportunity  for  useful  labor  that  I  had  in  mind 
wiien  I  proposed  it  to  you.  I  see  no  reason  why  a  so- 
ciety there  should  not  be,  in  point  of  influence,  for 
Oregon  (which  is  larger  than  X.  E.,  and  is  rapidly 
filling  up)  what  San  Francisco  is  for  California,  or  St. 
Louis  for  the  valley  of  the  Mississippi.  *  *  *  * 
I  think  the  Portland  people  propose  to  pay  ^2,000. 00 
a  year  in  gold  to  begin  with.  I  don't  like  to  write  or 
telegraph  to  them  about  you  going,  till  you  have  pretty 
well  made  up  your  mind;  lest  it  should  encourage 
them  by  uncertain  hopes.  ***** 
Most  truly  yours 

Ohakles  Lowe. 


APPEISDIX  D. 


Order  of  Exercises  of  the  Dedlcatioii  of  the  First  Uiii- 
riaii  Church  of  Portland,  Oregon,  Decem- 
ber 29,  18G7. 


I. 

Voluntary  aud  Anthem. 

II. 

Invocation — Rev.  C.  C.  Strattou. 
Reading  of  tlie  Scriptures — Rev.  E.  C.  Anderson. 

III. 
Hymn. 

IV. 

History  of  the  Society — Judge  E.  1>.  Shattuck. 

V. 

Prayer  of  Dedication. 
Hymn. 

VI. 

Sermon — Rev.  T.  L.  Eliot. 

VII. 

Closing  Prayer — Rev.  O.  G.  Ilarpending. 
Antliem. 

VIII. 

Benediction. 


APPENDIX  E. 


Articles  of  Agreement  and  Church  Covensint, 
For  the  Body  of  Commuiiicants. 


WiiiiKEAs,  The  great  opportunities  and  demand 
for  Christian  iaboi'  and  consecration  at  tliis  time 
increase  our  sense  of  the  obligations  of  all  disciples  of 
the  Jiord  Jesus  Christ  to  prove  their  faith  by  self-de- 
nial, and  by  the  devotion  of  their  lives  and  jiossessions 
to  the  service  of  Cxod,  and  the  Viuilding  up  of  the  king- 
dom of  his  Son,  therefore: 

We,  who  have  here  subscribed  our  names,  do 
unite  ourselves  together  as  the  Body  of  Communi- 
cants in  the  First  Unitarian  Society  of  Portland,  Or- 
ei>()n.  In  so  doing,  we  express  our  resolve  to  be  seif- 
Ci)nsecrated  in  this  work,  to  the  end  that  we  may  ol»- 
tain  strength  for  its  performance,  and  labor  faithfully 
for  it  in  every  direction,  as  we  may  be  guided  by  the 
spirit  of  God.  By  thus  uniting  ourselves  together  «y 
7n(tkc  no  profession  of  hohness,  but  ratlwr  a  co)iff-ssio)i  of 
icenkness:  and  we  further  claim  no  right  to  exclude  any 
one  from  this  Communion,  on  account  of  difference  in 
doctrinal  opinions,  nor  for  any  other  reason,  except 
foi  undoubted  immorality  of  conduct. 

We  also  adopt  for  our  use  in  the  admission  of 
members  the  following 

'•You  do.  in  this  solemn  i)resence.  give  up  yoiu"- 
self  to  the  true  (rod  in  .Jesus  Christ,  and  to  his  people 


TWENTY- FJFTII  AXNIVEUSAKY 


91 


also,  according  to  the  will  of  God,  iJiomising  to  walk 
with  God,  and  with  this  Church  of  his,  in  all  his  lioly 
ordinances,  and  to  yield  obedience  to  every  truth  of 
his,  which  has  been  or  shall  be  made  known  to  you  as 
your  duty,  the  Lord  assisting  you  by  his  Spirit  and 
grace."' 

"We,  then,  the  Church  of  Christ  in  tiiis  place,  do 
receive  you  into  the  fellowship,  and  promise  to  walk 
toward  you,  and  to  watcli  over  you,  as  a  member  of 
this  Church,  endeavoring  your  spiritual  edification  in 
Christ  Jesus  our  Lord." 


THE  OIIIGINAL  SIGNEKS  TO  THE    CHURCH    COVENANT. 


T.  L.  Eliot, 
Henrietta  R.  Eliot, 
Thos.  Frazar, 
Mary  E.  Frazar, 
C.  W.  Burrage, 
Sarah  J.  Burrage, 
Abby  W.  Atwood, 
Ira  Goodnough. 
N.  E.  Goodnough, 
Rosa  F.  Burrell, 
W.  W.  Spaulding, 
H.  L.  Spaulding, 
Margaret  L.  Stevens, 
Sue  Stevens, 
Kate  Stevens, 
Maude  Stevens, 


Hazard  Stevens, 
Lydia  M.  Wright, 
C.  Robie, 
W.  E.  Cooper, 
Mary  E.  Cooper, 
Bettie  Farmer, 
Anna  Cooke, 
A.  J.  Dufur, 
Louis  Dufur, 
11.  W.  Davis, 
Annie  M.  Ilurd, 
IL  B.  Hastings, 
Louisa  A.  Hastings, 
Lvicia  A.  Led  yard, 
Fred.  A.  Crawford. 


92  EXliRCI^ES    or    THE 


APPENDIX  F. 


The  lollowing  correspondence  relative  to  Dr.  El- 
iot's resignation  will  need  no  explaiuition: 

Portland,  Oregon,  November  22,  1892. 
To  the  Trustees  of  the  First  Unitarian  Society: 

Honored  Friends: 

I  herewith  tender  to  yon  my  resignation  as  pastor 
of  tlie  church  After  twenty-five  years  of  almost  con- 
tinuous service  I  find  that  the  state  of  my  health  ne- 
cessitates an  entire  change  and  relief  fiom  responsi- 
ble work.  I  will  not  burden  you  at  this  time  with  ex- 
pressions of  my  affection,  nor  of  gratitude  to  the 
church  and  peojtle  for  their  kindness  and  co-operation 
throughout  my  ministry.  I  am  happy  to  think  that 
my  home  is  probably  to  continue  with  you,  and  that 
when  I  am  in  the  city  I  may  be  a  sharer  in  the  gen- 
eral work  of  our  church  and  cause,  with  perhaps  occa- 
sional service  in  the  pulpit  when  I  can  so  aid  the  pas- 
tor in  charge. 

My  desire  and  decision  to  be  retired  from  the 
active  pastorate  are  the  result  of  mature  deliberation, 
and  as  such  I  beg  the  Trustees  and  the  Society  to  con- 
sider my  resignation  as  unalterable.  I  address  you 
in  advance  of  the  annual  meeting  that  you  may  kindly 
allow  my  term  of  service  to  close  with  that  date — Jan- 
uary 10,  1893. 

I  am  with  esteem  and  love,  yours, 

T.  L.  Eliot. 

Portland,  Oregon,  Nov.  25,  1892. 

Key.  T.  L.  Eltot,  D.  D., 

Pastor  First  Unitarian  Socnty: 
Dear  Sir: 

I  am  directed  by  the  Board   of   Trustees   of 
the  First  Unitarian  Society  to  acknowledge  )-eceipt  of 


TWENTY-FIFTH  ANNI VEKfSARY.  93 


your  communication  of  date  22d  inst.,  and  iiifoini  you 
of  their  action.  In  accordance  witli  tlie  wishes  you 
so  tenderly  and  feelingly  express  in  tendering  your 
resignation  as  Pastor  of  the  Society,  the  Hoard  of 
Trustees  havetliisday  reluctantly,  and  with  heart-felt 
regret,  accepted  your  resignation,  which  will  take  ef- 
fect, as  you  desire,  January  10,  1898. 

Knowing  your  earnest  desire  in  the  matter,  and 
realizing  your  physical  disability,  there  is  no  other 
course  left  for  the  Trustees  but  to  accept  your  resig- 
nation as  Pastor,  with  an  earnest  hope  that  you  will 
remain  with  us  as  Pastor  Emeritus,  and  wiienever 
time  and  strength  may  permit,  you  will  fill  our  pidjjit, 
and  give  counsel,  and  forward  the  inteiests  of  the 
church,  and  the  great  work  which  you  have  so  nobly 
ostablislied.  Your  resignation,  and  the  action  and 
reconuuendations  of  the  Hoard  in  the  matter,  will  be 
submitted  to  the  .Vnnual  Meeting  of  the  Society  in 
JatHiary  next.  Your  life  of  self-sacrilice.  devotion  to 
dnty.  and  untiring  labor  in  religious,  educational,  aiul 
l)hilauthropic  work,  not  only  in  Portland,  but  through- 
out this  great  Xorth-wTst,  has  set  in  motion  potent 
iiitluences  tor  ti.e  amelioration  of  mankind,  and  for 
the  building  up  of  a  broader  and  grander  civilization. 

May  you  and  your  dear  wife  and  family  live  long 
in  our  midst,  continuing  in  the  service   of   humanity, 
and  enjoying  the  fruition  of  youi'  labois. 
AlTectionately  yours, 

TlIKODOItE    WygANT. 

Acting  Secretary  of  the  Boftrd  of  Trustees. 

.\t  the  annual  meeting  of  the  First  rnitarian  So- 
ciety, held  on  January  10,  1898,  Rev.  Dr.  p]liofs  res- 
igiuition  as  jiastor  of  the  Society  having  been  offered 
and  accepted,  the  following  i-esoiutions  were  presented 
and  unanimously  adopted  by  the  Society: 


EXERCISES    OF     THE 


Whereas,  After  a  period  of  25  years  of  failliful 

service,  our  loverl,  esteemed  and  wortliy  pastor  of  the 
Fi)-st  Unitarian  Churcli  of  Portland,  Oregon.  Rev.  T. 
1j  Elior,  lias  tendt'ied  iiis  resignation  to  this  Cliurcli 
and  Society;  and 

Whereas,  In  conseqnence  of  his  liealth  and 
strengtli  not  permitting  him  to  continue  liis  hibors 
longer,  his  lesignation  has  been  accepted  as  the  regu- 
lar pastor  of  tills  Cliun-h;  and 

Whereas,  This  long  service  has  been  charactei- 
ized  by  self-forget  fulness,  self-sacrifice  and  devotion  to 
duty;  by  substantial  help  by  word  and  deed  in  poverty, 
sickness  and  distress,  by  his  earnest  and  intelligent 
support  in  all  benevolent,  philanthropic,  educational 
and  religious  work  in  this  city  and  State,  he  has 
builded  iiu)nnments  that  will  be  an  inspiration  to  all 
in  coming  time,  and  in  every  way  worthy  of  the  efforts 
of  the  ablest  and  best;  and 

Whereas.  He  has  i)laced  himself  in  the  front 
ranks  of  Christian  leaders  and  educators  in  encourag- 
ing all  moral  reforms  and  in  ably  discussing  the  great 
questions  of  the  day;  therefore,  be  it 

Rescjlved.  That  it  is  the  earnest  wish  and  desire  of 
this  Church  and  Society  that  whenever  health  and 
strength  will  permit,  he  will  supplement  the  regular 
l)astor"s  work  in  every  way  that  will  give  him  plea.s- 
ure;  that  he  and  his  estimable  wife  may  live  long  in 
our  midst,  surrounded  by  their  happy  family,  to  wit- 
ness the  growth  and  development  of  the  great  work 
they  have  so  nobly  a<lvanced  in  our  city  and  State 
and  the  potential  iiitliiences  they  have  set  in  motion 
for  the  amelioration  of  this  community 

licsolvcd.  That  a  copy  of  this  preamble  and  reso- 
lution be  spread  upon  the  records  of  this  Church,  and 
a  copy  be  furnished  our  retiring  and  much-loved  pas- 
tor. 


TWENTY-FJFTII  AXMVERSARY  95 


APPENDIX    G. 


Important  Dates  in  the  History  of  the  Church. 


December  13,  1853. — Arrival  of  the  Frazar  Family. 

December  13,  1865. — Organization  of  tiie  Ladies' 
Sewing  Society. 

April,  1866. — Visit  of  Rev.  Horatio  Stebbins. 

June  26,  1866. — Organization  of  the  First  Unitarian 
Society. 

July  9,  1866. — Incori)oration  of  the  First  Unitarian 
Society. 

December  24,  1867.— Arrival  of  Rev  Mr.  Eliot. 

December  29,  1867. — Dedication  of  the  Chapel. 

January  5,  1868- Organization  of  the  Sunday- 
school. 

June  7,  1868. — Forming  of  the  Church. 

May  4,  1876. — Organization  of  the  Christian  Union. 

July  21,  1878. — Laying  corner-stone  of  the  Church. 

June  8,  1879. — Dedication  of  the  Chui'ch. 

September  5,  1880. — South  Portland  Sunday-school 
organized. 

April  17,  1881. — South  Portland  Chapel   dedicated. 

January  7,  1882. — Sans  Souci  Club  organized. 

June  29,  1886. — Post-office  Mission    organized. 

October  17,  1886. — Branch  of  Unitarian  Church 
Temperance  Society  organized. 

November  6,  1887.  -Young  People's  Fraternity  or- 
ganized. 

January  24,  1891. — Church  partially  destroyed  by 
tire. 

December  29,  1892. — Twenty-fifth  Anniversary. 

January  10,  1893. ^Resignation  of  ReV.  T.  L.  Eliot. 


ERRATA. 

r.  8ii,  note,  for  Slantlaiid  ie;i(l  Wanthoid. 
P.  84,  liwe  24.  for  Simon  read  Shiieon. 
r.  88.  line  2(1,  for  F.  B.  Marshull    read  J.  F.  B. 
31a  r fill  all. 


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